Final answer:
To find the average atomic mass of magnesium, we multiply the mass of each isotope by its relative abundance, then sum these products. The calculation results in an average atomic mass of magnesium equal to 24.298 amu.
Step-by-step explanation:
The average atomic mass of magnesium in the rocks analyzed by the Curiosity rover on Mars can be calculated using the isotope masses and their relative abundances. The average atomic mass is the sum of the products of the mass of each isotope and its relative abundance (expressed as a fraction).
To calculate this, we use the following formula:
Plugging in the given values:
(23.9872 amu x 0.7970) + (24.9886 amu x 0.1013) + (25.9846 amu x 0.1017) = average atomic mass.
When we calculate these products and sum them up, we get:
(23.9872 amu x 0.7970) + (24.9886 amu x 0.1013) + (25.9846 amu x 0.1017) = 19.130 amu + 2.528 amu + 2.640 amu
Summing up the products gives us the average atomic mass of magnesium: 19.130 amu + 2.528 amu + 2.640 amu = 24.298 amu.
SUMUP all the final answer as points at the last:
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