Question

Consider the element Uranium, U. Determine which isotopes are naturally occurring. Look up the masses of each isotope in amu, and the natural abundances. Calculate the average atomic weight, and compare this to what you find in the periodic table. Given the atomic mass numbers of the isotopes, is the atomic mass number consistent with these atomic mass numbers? Why or why not? If it seems inconsistent, can you explain this apparent inconsistency

Answer 1

To determine the most abundant isotopic form of an element, compare given isotopes to the weighted average on the periodic table. For example, the three hydrogen isotopes (shown above) are H-1, H-2, and H-3. The atomic mass or weighted average of hydrogen is around 1.008 amu