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Multiple Choice
Only three isotopes of magnesium exist on earth. 24Mg is the most common form at 78.70% natural abundance with a mass of 23.98504 amu, 25Mg has a 10.13% natural abundance, while 26Mg has a natural abundance of 11.17% and a mass of 25.98259 amu. What is the mass of the 25Mg isotope?
A
24.76171 amu
B
24.99030 amu
C
25.00138 amu
D
25.38402 amu
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of isotopes: Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different atomic masses.
Identify the given data: We have three isotopes of magnesium with their respective natural abundances and masses. Specifically, we need to find the mass of the 25Mg isotope.
Recall the formula for calculating the average atomic mass: The average atomic mass of an element is calculated using the formula: \( \text{Average Atomic Mass} = \sum (\text{Fractional Abundance} \times \text{Isotope Mass}) \).
Set up the equation using the given data: For 25Mg, we know its natural abundance is 10.13%. Convert this percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100, which gives 0.1013.
Use the equation to solve for the mass of 25Mg: Substitute the known values into the equation and solve for the mass of 25Mg. Since the problem provides multiple choice answers, compare your calculated value to the options given.