Math Problem Statement
Element Z has two naturally occurring isotopes. The mass of isotope Z-29 is 28.97 amu and the mass of isotope Z-31 is 30.99 amu. The average atomic mass of Element Z is 30.22 amu. What is the percent abundance of isotope Z-31?
Solution
To find the percent abundance of isotope Z-31, we will use the formula for the average atomic mass:
where:
- and are the masses of the isotopes (28.97 amu for Z-29 and 30.99 amu for Z-31).
- and are the fractional abundances of the isotopes.
- The sum of the fractional abundances equals 1: .
Let be the fractional abundance of Z-31. Then, the fractional abundance of Z-29 will be .
Step 1: Set up the equation
Step 2: Expand the equation
Step 3: Combine like terms
Step 4: Solve for
So, the fractional abundance of Z-31 is approximately 0.6188, which means the percent abundance is:
Thus, the percent abundance of isotope Z-31 is approximately 61.88%.
Would you like more details or have any questions?
Related Questions
- What would be the percent abundance of Z-29 in this scenario?
- How does the average atomic mass relate to isotopic masses?
- If a third isotope were present, how would the calculation change?
- How do you find the mass of an element using isotopic data?
- What is the role of significant figures in calculating average atomic mass?
Tip
Always check that the sum of fractional abundances equals 1 to avoid calculation errors.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Algebra
Weighted Averages
Atomic Mass
Formulas
Average atomic mass = (m1 * f1) + (m2 * f2)
f1 + f2 = 1
Theorems
Conservation of Mass
Algebraic Manipulation
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 10-12
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