Question

The atomic masses of 35CI (75.53%) and 37CI (24.47%) are 34,968 and 36, 956 amu, respectively. What is the average atomic mass of chlorine?

Answer 1

To calculate the average atomic mass of chlorine, we need to consider the relative abundance of its isotopes and their respective atomic masses.

Given that 75.53% of chlorine atoms have a mass of 34,968 amu and 24.47% have a mass of 36,956 amu, we can calculate the average atomic mass as follows:

Average Atomic Mass = (Percent Abundance of Isotope 1 * Atomic Mass of Isotope 1) + (Percent Abundance of Isotope 2 * Atomic Mass of Isotope 2)

Average Atomic Mass = (0.7553 * 34,968 amu) + (0.2447 * 36,956 amu)

Average Atomic Mass = 26,446.26 amu + 9,034.97 amu

Average Atomic Mass ≈ 35,481.23 amu

Therefore, the average atomic mass of chlorine is approximately 35,481.23 amu.