The average mass of an atom is calculated with the formula:
average mass = abundance of isotope (1) × mass of isotope (1) + abundance of isotope (2) × mass of isotope (2) + ... an so on
For the boron we have two isotopes, so the formula will become:
average mass of boron = abundance of isotope (1) × mass of isotope (1) + abundance of isotope (2) × mass of isotope (2)
We plug in the values:
10.81 = 0.1980 × 10.012938 + 0.8020 × mass of isotope (2)
10.81 = 1.98 + 0.8020 × mass of isotope (2)
10.81 - 1.98 = 0.8020 × mass of isotope (2)
8.83 = 0.8020 × mass of isotope (2)
mass of isotope (2) = 8.83 / 0.8020
mass of isotope (2) = 11.009975
mass of isotope (1) = 10.012938 (given by the question)
