Question

3. What is the atomic mass of phosphorous if phosphorous-29 has a percent abundance of 35.5%, phosphorous-30 has a percent abundance of 42.6%, and phosphorous-31 has a percent abundance of 21.9%?

Answer 1

Answer:

The atomic mass of phosphorus is 29.864 amu.

Explanation:

Given data:

Atomic mass of phosphorus = ?

Percent abundance of P-29 = 35.5%

percent abundance of P-30 = 42.6%

Percent abundance of P-31 = 21.9%

Solution:

Average atomic mass = (abundance of 1st isotope × its atomic mass) +(abundance of 2nd isotope × its atomic mass) + (abundance of 3rd isotope × its atomic mass  / 100

Average atomic mass  = (29×35.5)+(30×42.6) + (31×21.9) /100

Average atomic mass =  1029.5 + 1278 + 678.9/ 100

Average atomic mass  = 2986.4 / 100

Average atomic mass = 29.864 amu.

The atomic mass of phosphorus is 29.864 amu.