The masses of isotopes and their abundances are determined experimentally using

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mass spectrometry is the primary method for determining the masses of isotopes and their abundances. It uses a mass spectrometer to separate ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio and measures their abundances.

B, C, D, and E are not suitable methods for determining isotopic masses and abundances. An analytical balance is used to determine the mass of a sample, but cannot differentiate between isotopes. A centrifuge separates particles based on their density, which is not useful in separating isotopes that have similar densities. Filtration and distillation are methods for separating different compounds, but do not differentiate between isotopes of the same element. Electrolysis is a technique for breaking down compounds into their constituent ions, but this cannot be used to distinguish between isotopes either.

The Masses of Isotopes and Their Abundances Are Determined Experimentally