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3w ago

The average Atomic Mass of an element's naturally occurring atom isotope is calculated by taking the weighted average of the masses of its isotopes based on their abundance in nature. This value is listed on the Periodic Table for each element.

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11y ago

Approximately 20 elements such as yttrium and sodium have only one stable, naturally-occuring isotope. All remaining elements have at least two isotopes. The atomic mass of any stable element as shown in the periodic table is the weighted average of all of that element's stable, naturally-occuring isotopes. Thus, except for the elements that have only one stable, naturally-occuring isotope, none of a given element's isotopes have the atomic mass shown in the periodic table; each isotope has its own atomic mass.

What may be confusing to some students is the way all isotopes are named and the fact that no stable isotope has a whole number as its atomic weight - there is either some mass "missing" or some "extra" mass. Isotopes are denoted by "nuclide symbols." Let's look at chlorine (Cl) as an example: There are two natural and stable isotopes of Cl. The nuclide symbols are 35Cl and 37Cl, the respective atomic masses are 34.969 u and 36.966 u, where u stands for atomic mass unit, and the natural abundances of the isotopes are 75.76% and 24.24%. The weighted atomic mass for Cl is (34.969u x 0.7576) + (36.966u x 0.2424) = 35.45u. This is the atomic mass shown on the periodic table (to four significant figures). Clearly, both Cl isotopes appear to be missing some mass. The difference in mass between what is indicated by the nuclide symbol and the actual mass of the isotope is due to the fact that the isotope was formed from nuclear fission in a star. The tremendous amount of energy released in a nuclear fission reaction comes from mass being converted to energy per Einstein's equation E = MC2.

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11y ago

The atomic weight sometimes called the relative atomic mass. See Wikipedia article "Relative atomic mass".

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12y ago

It would depend on which element and what the isotopes of the element are.

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Q: What is the average atomic mass of an elements naturally occurring atom isotope?
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When the masses of all naturally occurring isotopes of a particular element are averaged the result is called the elements?

Atomic weight, if the average is taken by weighting the mass of each naturally occurring isotope by its natural abundance.


How do you calculate the average mass of a naturally occurring element?

By multiplying the mass number of each naturally occurring isotope of the element by the fractional abundance of the same isotope, then adding all the resulting products.


What is a naturally occuring isotope?

A naturally occurring isotope is a form of an element with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons in the nucleus. These isotopes are found in nature and contribute to the overall abundance of elements on Earth. An example is carbon-12, which is the most abundant carbon isotope in nature.


What are all the elements that do not have isotopes?

Bismuth is the only naturally-occurring element that has no stable isotopes. Technetium and promethium are the other two elements that do not have any stable isotopes and are only found in trace amounts or are synthetically produced.


What is the mass number of most common naturally occurring isotope of carbon?

The most common naturally occurring isotope of carbon is carbon-12, which has a mass number of 12.


Is it true that the atomic mass of chlorine represents the mass of the most common naturally occurring isotope of chlorine?

No, the atomic mass of chlorine on the periodic table is actually an average of all the naturally occurring isotopes of chlorine, taking into account their relative abundance. The most common isotope of chlorine is chlorine-35, but there is also a small percentage of chlorine-37, which contributes to the overall atomic mass.


What is monoisotopy?

having only one naturally occurring isotope


Is tin an isotope?

Tin is an element with ten naturally occurring isotopes.


How has the amount of earths radioactive isotope changed over time?

Many elements have naturally occurring isotopes, varieties of the element that have different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus.


Does a radioisotope of gold occur naturally?

No, gold has only one naturally occurring isotope and it is non-radioactive.


What is the mass number of the most common naturally occurring isotope of carbon?

12


Why do elements have a listed average atomic mass and not just atomic mass?

Because most naturally occurring elements are a mixture of isotopes, each having a different atomic mass. These individual isotopic atomic masses must be combined accounting for the amount of each isotope of the element is present to get a weighted average atomic mass.