Question

Can you help with this Chemistry question?

Suppose that a fictitious element, X, has two isotopes: 59X (59.015 amu) and 62X (62.011 amu). The lighter isotope has an abundance of 61.7%. Calculate the atomic mass of the element X.
____amu

Answer 1

60.162468 amu

Explanation:

We are given that 61.7% of the element consists of the isotope weighing 59.015 amu, then the remainder, 38.3% of the element must weigh 62.011 amu.

Thus we multiply the masses with their respective percentages and add them together:

`(0.617 times 59.015)+(0.383 times 62.011)`

That leaves us with the answer:
`=60.162468`