110k views
4 votes
What is the average atomic mass for lithium based on the isotopic data provided?

A. 6.94 amu
B. 6.90 amu
C. 6.97 amu
D. 6.98 amu

User Nic Barker
by
8.0k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The average atomic mass of lithium from naturally occurring minerals is calculated using the isotopic composition and mass, resulting in approximately 6.94 amu, which corresponds to option A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The average atomic mass of lithium can be calculated using the isotopic mass and abundance. For lithium from naturally occurring minerals with 7.5% 6Li (mass of 6.01512 amu) and 92.5% 7Li (mass of 7.01600 amu), the calculation would be:

(0.075 × 6.01512 amu) + (0.925 × 7.01600 amu) = 0.451134 amu + 6.4898 amu = 6.940934 amu.

Therefore, rounding to two decimal places, the average atomic mass of lithium from this source would be approximately 6.94 amu, which corresponds to option A.

User Charm
by
8.1k points