Question #69167
The figure below shows the mass spectrum of lead as obtained from the mass spectrometer:
a) Calculate the relative atomic mass of lead.
b) State and explain the number of isotopes in natural lead.
a) Calculate the relative atomic mass of lead.
b) State and explain the number of isotopes in natural lead.
Expert's answer
The relative atomic mass is worked out using the following formula, illustrated for two isotopes, where the abundances are given in percentage values.
A_r=((mass1 x abundance 1)+(mass2 x abundance2)+⋯)/100
Natural lead consists of four stable isotopes with mass numbers of 204, 206, 207, and 208, and traces of five short-lived radioisotopes.
A_r=((mass1 x abundance 1)+(mass2 x abundance2)+⋯)/100
Natural lead consists of four stable isotopes with mass numbers of 204, 206, 207, and 208, and traces of five short-lived radioisotopes.
