A hypothetical element contains three isotopes of mass 16.0 amu, 17.0 amu, and 18.0 amu with relative abundances of 20.0%, 50.0% and 30.0%, respectively. The average atomic mass is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The average atomic mass is calculated by multiplying each isotope's mass by its relative abundance (expressed as a fraction), then summing these products. For the given isotopes: (16.0 amu * 0.20) + (17.0 amu * 0.50) + (18.0 amu * 0.30) = 3.2 amu + 8.5 amu + 5.4 amu = 17.1 amu.

A Hypothetical Element Contains Three Isotopes of Mass 16