Skip to main content
Ch.2 - Atoms & Elements
Tro - Chemistry: A Molecular Approach 6th Edition
Tro6th EditionChemistry: A Molecular ApproachISBN: 9780137832217Non è quello che usi tu?Cambia libro di testo
Capitolo 2, Problema 127

Lithium has only two naturally occurring isotopes. The mass of lithium-6 is 6.01512 amu and the mass of lithium-7 is 7.01601 amu. Calculate the relative abundances of the two isotopes.

Guida verificata passo dopo passo
1
Identify the given masses of the isotopes: lithium-6 has a mass of 6.01512 amu, and lithium-7 has a mass of 7.01601 amu.
Let the abundance of lithium-6 be represented as x, and the abundance of lithium-7 be represented as 1-x, since the total abundance must sum to 100%.
Use the average atomic mass of lithium from the periodic table, which is approximately 6.94 amu, to set up the equation: (6.01512 * x) + (7.01601 * (1-x)) = 6.94.
Solve the equation for x to find the abundance of lithium-6. This involves simplifying the equation and isolating x.
Substitute the value of x back into the expression for the abundance of lithium-7 (1-x) to find its abundance.

Risposta video verificata per un problema simile:

Questa soluzione video è stata consigliata dai nostri tutor come utile per risolvere questo problema.

Concetti chiave

Ecco i concetti essenziali che devi comprendere per rispondere correttamente alla domanda.

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different atomic masses. For lithium, the two isotopes are lithium-6 and lithium-7, which have 3 protons each but differ in their neutron count (3 and 4, respectively). Understanding isotopes is crucial for calculations involving atomic mass and relative abundance.
Video consigliato:

Relative Abundance

Relative abundance refers to the proportion of each isotope of an element present in a sample, usually expressed as a percentage. To calculate the relative abundances of isotopes, one can use the weighted average of their masses and the known average atomic mass of the element. This concept is essential for determining how much of each isotope contributes to the overall atomic mass.
Video consigliato:
Percorso guidato
5:41
Calculating Abundance Example

Weighted Average

A weighted average is a mean that takes into account the relative importance or frequency of each value in a dataset. In the context of isotopes, the weighted average of the isotopes' masses is calculated using their relative abundances. This method allows for the determination of the average atomic mass of an element, which is critical for understanding its isotopic composition.
Video consigliato:
Percorso guidato
02:03
Average Rate of Reaction