Question

How to find the percentage abundance of isotope

Answer 1

To find the percentage abundance of an isotope, convert the percent abundances to decimal form, multiply by the atomic mass of the isotope, and add the values for each isotope to get the average atomic mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the percentage abundance of an isotope, you need to follow these steps:

1. Convert the percent abundances to decimal form by dividing each percentage by 100.
2. Multiply the decimal value by the atomic mass of the isotope.
3. Add together the values obtained in step 2 for each isotope to get the average atomic mass.

For example, if an element has two isotopes with percent abundances of 75.77% and 24.23%, and atomic masses of 35 and 37, respectively, the calculation would be:

(0.7577 × 35) + (0.2423 × 37) = 26.51 + 8.965 = 35.48, which is the weighted average atomic mass for the element.

Answer 2

Answer below (in explanation)

Step-by-step explanation:

First find the average atomic mass of the element in question (on the periodic table)

Set up the relative abundance formula: (M1)(x) + (M2)(1-x) = M(E)

Where M1 = Mass of the first isotope, X = Relative abundance, M2 = mass of the second isotope, M(E) = Atomic mass of the element

Plug in your values (i'll use nitrogen as an example) :

(background info: The mass of one isotope, nitrogen-14, is 14.003 amu and another isotope, nitrogen-15, is 15.000 amu, find the relative abundance of the isotopes.

14.003x + 15.000(1-x) =14.007

Use algebra and solve for X. First use distributive property, combine like terms, and solve for X.

It would equal X = 0.996. Multiply by 100 to get a proper percentage and the percentage abundance of Nitrogen-14 is 99.6%

This way of solving is limited to 2 isotopes only.

Done