Question

The atomic mass of chlorine is 35.45. Is it possible for any single atom of chlorine to have a mass number of exactly 35.45? Explain

Answer 1

No because the atomic mass is the average of the different isotopes, so there is no isotope with a mass of 35.45. There are no isotopes that have decimal masses, they have to be a whole number.

Answer 2

Answer:

            No, Is it possible for any single atom of chlorine to have a mass number of exactly 35.45.

Explanation:

Average Atomic Mass of Chlorine:

                                                        Naturally Chlorine exists in many isotopes among which only two isotopes are stable. There atomic masses and natural abundance is given as,

            ³⁵Cl  Atomic Mass  =  35 amu

            ³⁵Cl natural Abundance  =  76 %

            ³⁷Cl  Atomic Mass  =  37 amu

            ³⁷Cl natural Abundance  =  24 %

                         Average Atomic Mass  =  (35 × 0.76) + (37 × 0.24)

                         Average Atomic Mass  =  26.6 + 8.88

                         Average Atomic Mass  =  ≈ 35.48

Conclusion:

                  Hence, it is cleared that a single Chlorine atom can have a whole number of atomic mass (sum of protons and neutrons). And therefore no single chlorine atom can have an atomic mass in decimals.