Question

IUDU VIWIUWI UCOIII.
1. The average atomic mass of a sample of an element X is 16.2 u.
What are the percentages of isotopes 16 X and 18 x in the
sample?
cs​

Answer 1

Explanation:

In order to solve this problem, we will have to suppose that the percentage of one of the isotopes in the sample is x, so that the percentage of the other isotope in the sample will be (100-x). Now:

(i) The mass of

isotope is 16u. Suppose its percentage in the sample is x%.

(ii) The mass of

isotope is 18 u. Its percentage in the sample will be (100-x)%.

So, Average atomic mass of X =

But the average atomic mass of X has been given to be 16.2 u. Therefore,

16.2 =

16.2 =

16.2 ×100 = 1800-2x

2x = 1800 – 1620

2x = 180

X = 90

Thus, the percentage of the isotope

in the sample is 90%. The percentage of the isotope

in the sample will be 100 – 90 = 10%.