Finding mass based on amu and % abundance

  • Thread starter Thread starter chemstudent
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Abundance Mass
AI Thread Summary
To find the average atomic mass of oxygen, the contributions of each isotope based on their atomic mass units (amu) and percent abundance must be calculated. The isotopes are Oxygen-16 (15.995 amu, 99.759% abundance), Oxygen-17 (16.995 amu, 0.037% abundance), and Oxygen-18 (17.999 amu, 0.204% abundance). The correct formula involves multiplying each isotope's mass by its decimal abundance and summing these values. A common mistake is not converting the percent abundance into decimal form before performing the calculations. The average atomic mass of oxygen can be accurately calculated using the formula provided.
chemstudent
Messages
2
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Oxygen has 3 isotopes. Oxygen-16 has the amu of 15.995 and its natural percent abundance is 99.759. Oxygen-17 has a mass of 16.995 amu and its natural percent abundance is 0.037. Oxygen-18 has a mass of 17.999 amu and its natural percent abundance is 0.204. What is the average atomic mass of oxygen?

Homework Equations



I think I forgot these...

The Attempt at a Solution



I couldn't remember what the process is supposed to look like to figure this sort of problem out, so I tried to multiply the mass by the percent abundance, but the answers made very little sense. If somebody could help me figure out where I messed up, PLEASE RESPOND!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The average atomic mass of an element is much like a simple mixture problem that you learn in first year Algebra such that you can resort directly to percentage contributions formula.

AverageAMU = 0.99759*16 + 0.00037*17 + 0.00204*18
 
Thank you so much!
 

Thread 'Prove that evolution is constant (Provide at least two arguments to support your position)'

I don't get how to argue it. i can prove: evolution is the ability to adapt, whether it's progression or regression from some point of view, so if evolution is not constant then animal generations couldn`t stay alive for a big amount of time because when climate is changing this generations die. but they dont. so evolution is constant. but its not an argument, right? how to fing arguments when i only prove it.. analytically, i guess it called that (this is indirectly related to biology, im...
View full post »

Similar threads

Abundance of isotopes based on ratios
Replies
3
Views
4K
What is the percent abundance of 140Ce in Cerium?
Replies
3
Views
16K
Percent composition of Silver (two naturally occurring isotopes)
Replies
1
Views
2K
Calculate % Natural Abundance of Carbon-13
Replies
2
Views
3K
How to Calculate Relative Atomic Mass Without Abundance Information?
Replies
1
Views
2K
Finding recoil velocity of an object during a collision
Replies
9
Views
2K
Using Mass Spectrometry to Identify a Chemical Compound: A Homework Problem
Replies
6
Views
3K
How Do Sulfur Isotopes Determine Its Average Atomic Mass?
Replies
4
Views
5K
Why wasn't fluorine used as a standard for atomic mass?
Replies
6
Views
3K
A Pandora's Box: Carbon-14 vicious cycle from transmutation
Replies
1
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top