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As an element occurs as a mixture of naturally occurring isotopes what is the atomic mass of the element based upon?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
The Atomic Mass of an element is based upon the weighted average of the atomic masses of the naturally occurring isotopes of that element. We need to know what isotopes of a given element occur in nature, and what percentage of the natural abundance of an element each of those naturally occurring isotopes represents. What that means might be more easily seen if we just run through some examples. So let's run through some.
We have an element with 3 naturally occurring isotopes. They occur equally. That is, each one represents a third of the natural atoms, or 33 1/3 % of them. If the atomic masses of our isotopes are 17, 18 and 19, and all occur equally, then it's 17 + 18 + 19 (which equals 54) divided by 3 which is 54 divided by 3 which is 18. Our atomic mass for the element cited is 18, and that represents all the natural isotopes and the percentage in which they occur. Pretty easy.
We have an element with 4 naturally occurring isotopes. Here are their atomic masses and percent abundance: a = 46 (25%), b = 47 (50%), c = 48 (15%), and d = 49 (10%). There is a (fairly) simple process one can use to find the weighted average. Multiply the percent natural abundance times the atomic mass of each one and add them all together. Not to difficult, is it? Roll up your sleeves and let's have at it.
46 x 25% = 11.5
47 x 50% = 23.5
48 x 15% = 7.2
49 x 10% = 4.9
11.5 + 23.5 + 7.2 + 4.9 = 47.1 atomic mass units
So now we have our atomic mass for our mystery element in example two. We calculated it by determining a weighted average of the naturally occurring isotopes. And that's very important information to take to the lab where we'll be measuring (weighing) some of this stuff.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoBoth the masses and the relative abundances of the individual isotopes
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The mass of the mixture of the isotopes for an element?
The mass of the naturally occurring mixture of isotopes for any element is called the atomic weight, whereas the mass of any individual isotope is simply called the isotopic mass.
What element is an example of a homogenous mixture?
No element is a mixture of any chemical type, because by definition an element is a chemical substance that can not be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. However, many elements can be separated by physical means into isotopes that differ from one another in atomic number. If these are considered mixtures, then many naturally occurring elements can be considered homogeneous mixtures. The element of lowest atomic number that has more than one stable isotope making up at least 5 % of the naturally occurring atoms is lithium, and the next lowest such element is boron. The next lowest such element is magnesium, which has three isotopes all satisfying this criterion. Titanium, with atomic number 22, has five such isotopes. Zinc, element 30, has five naturally occurring isotopes, three of which constitute more than 15 % each of the atoms in naturally occurring zinc. Germanium naturally contains five isotopes, each of which constitutes at least 5 % of the atoms, and 3 of these isotopes constitute at least 20 % of all the atoms each.
What Is the weighted average of all of the isotopes of an element.?
The answer is the atomic weight of the original element: It's the number on the top left of each element square of the Periodic Table.
Is tap water an element a substance a compound or a mixture?
Tap water is not a pure substance because it is mixed with chemicals that purify it and if it was from the ground it has naturally occurring minerals mixed in it.
Is concrete a naturally occurring substance?
No, it is a mixture of water, sand and something else
The mass of the mixture of the isotopes for an element?
The mass of the naturally occurring mixture of isotopes for any element is called the atomic weight, whereas the mass of any individual isotope is simply called the isotopic mass.
What element is an example of a homogenous mixture?
No element is a mixture of any chemical type, because by definition an element is a chemical substance that can not be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. However, many elements can be separated by physical means into isotopes that differ from one another in atomic number. If these are considered mixtures, then many naturally occurring elements can be considered homogeneous mixtures. The element of lowest atomic number that has more than one stable isotope making up at least 5 % of the naturally occurring atoms is lithium, and the next lowest such element is boron. The next lowest such element is magnesium, which has three isotopes all satisfying this criterion. Titanium, with atomic number 22, has five such isotopes. Zinc, element 30, has five naturally occurring isotopes, three of which constitute more than 15 % each of the atoms in naturally occurring zinc. Germanium naturally contains five isotopes, each of which constitutes at least 5 % of the atoms, and 3 of these isotopes constitute at least 20 % of all the atoms each.
What Is the weighted average of all of the isotopes of an element.?
The answer is the atomic weight of the original element: It's the number on the top left of each element square of the Periodic Table.
What is the mass number of sliver?
Mass number is a property of isotopes, not elements themselves. Naturally occurring silver is a mixture of isotopes with mass numbers 107 and 109, with an average atomic mass of 107.9.
What is the density of palladium 106?
Palladium consists of several isotopes. The density of a naturally occurring sample, which is a mixture of isotopes is 12.02 g/cm3. I have no reference material for individual isotopes. There is a book called the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics which may have this information.
What is the average mass of the mixture of an elements isotopes?
All of the isotopes in an element's atomic masses divided by the amount of isotopes there are is the weighted-average mass of the mixture of an elements isotopes.
A naturally occurring substance in the solid inorganic crystalline state is know as a?
a naturally occurring solid mixture of minerals or organic matter is called
Is tap water an element a substance a compound or a mixture?
Tap water is not a pure substance because it is mixed with chemicals that purify it and if it was from the ground it has naturally occurring minerals mixed in it.
Is concrete a naturally occurring substance?
No, it is a mixture of water, sand and something else
What is the average mass of the mixture of an element's isotopes?
It is called the Relative Atomic Mass.
Why do elements have a listed average atomic mass and not just atomic mass?
Because most naturally occurring elements are a mixture of isotopes, each having a different atomic mass. These individual isotopic atomic masses must be combined accounting for the amount of each isotope of the element is present to get a weighted average atomic mass.
What makes oil?
is a naturally occurring flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons
