Question

Oxygen has a total of three isotopes Oxygen-16, Oxygen-17, and oxygen-18. With their a.m.u. being 15.995, 16.999, and 17.999 respectively. The percent abundance for Oxygen-17 is 0.04% and Oxygen-18 is 0.2%. Find the percent abundance for oxygen-16?

Answer 1

Answer: The percentage abundance of oxygen-16 isotope is 99.76 %

Step-by-step explanation:

We are given:

Three isotopes of oxygen are there, O-16, O-17 and O-18

Mass of Oxygen-16 isotope = 15.995 amu

Mass of Oxygen-17 isotope = 16.999 amu

Mass of Oxygen-18 isotope = 17.999 amu

Percentage abundance of Oxygen-17 isotope = 0.04 %

Percentage abundance of Oxygen-18 isotope = 0.2 %

We know that:

Percentage abundance of all isotopes together is 100 %

So, Percentage abundance of Oxygen-16 isotope = [100 - (0.04 + 0.2)] = 99.76 %

Hence, the percentage abundance of oxygen-16 isotope is 99.76 %