Transcript mass
Mr. Shields
Regents Chemistry
U01 L05
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Atomic Mass
Up to now we discussed Atomic mass number in terms of
The Number of Neutrons and Protons
Ex. 8p + 9n = atomic mass number 17
But mass should tell us how much matter is present.
What does “17” really
tell us about how much matter
(mass) is present?
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Atomic Mass
Remember - Neutrons and Protons DON’T really
Have the same mass.
Mass of a Proton = 1.6726 x 10-24 gram
Mass of a Neutron = 1.6749 x 10-24 gram
So a neutron is really a little heavier than a Proton.
So what’s the implication?
If I have 19 neutrons and 19 protons
in a nucleus it DOES NOT have exactly the same mass as
A nucleus with 21 neutrons and 17 protons even though
The stated mass number is the same (38)
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Atomic Mass
Let’s look at the mass of one of the isotopes of
Carbon.
Carbon-12: 6 protons + 6 neutrons
6p x (1.6726 x 10-24) + 6 x (1.6749 x 10-24) grams
1 atom of carbon-12 = 2.00850 x 10-23 grams
But this is an “awkward” number to work with
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Atomic Mass Units
Instead of actual weights in grams Scientist use a
unit called an ATOMIC MASS UNIT
- Abbreviated “AMU”
Scientist decide NOT to base the
AMU on either the proton or neutron
Instead an arbitrary “Standard”
was chosen
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Atomic Mass Unit
The “Standard” they chose was an isotope of Carbon
- Carbon-12 (REMEMBER THIS!!)
The mass of CARBON-12 was
defined to be EXACTLY equal to
12 AMU’s
In other words 1 AMU EQUALS 1/12 the mass of a
Carbon-12 Atom
1 AMU is slightly less than the mass of
either a
neutron or a proton
- 1 AMU = 1.661 x 10-24 g
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AMU’s
EXCEPT for Carbon-12 the MASS of an atom in AMU’s is
NEVER EXACTLY the same as it’s MASS NUMBER
For example here’s some examples of AMU’s vs Mass No.
Atomic Mass in AMU’s
Proton
1.007825
Carbon-12
12.00000
Oxygen-16
15.994915
Magnesium-25
24.985837
Nickel-60
59.930791
Uranium-235
235.043925
Mass #
1
12
16
25
60
235
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Isotopic Abundance/Composition
In nature an element may have several isotopes
Isotopes have a specific percent
composition no matter where the
sample is collected on earth.
liquid
For example, oxygen in the air we breath has this
composition:
%
AMU
Oxygen-16
99.76%
15.994915
Oxygen-17
0.038%
16.999132
Oxygen-18
0.200%
17.999160
Total:
100.00%
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Relative Abundance
These %’s are known as The “Relative Abundances” of the
isotope.
In our example of Oxygen the Average AMU’s of a sample of
Oxygen must be between 15.994915 and 17.999160. Why?
The AVERAGE MASS of all the elements isotopes is called
the ATOMIC MASS or the ATOMIC WEIGHT
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THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN ATOMIC Mass Number
Isotopic Composition
So how do we calculate Atomic Mass?
Well it’s simply a weighted average.
Since we’re considering Oxygen ….
Oxygen-16
Oxygen-17
Oxygen-18
total:
Rel Abundance
99.762%
0.038%
0.200%
100%
AMU
15.994915
16.999132
17.999160
So, What is the Atomic Mass for Oxygen?
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Isotopic Composition
Remember: the Atomic mass is the Avg. Atomic mass of all
the elements isotopes & we need to use a weighted avg. to
Calculate it.
i.e. (Mass x abundance) + (mass x Abundance) etc.
(.9976 x 15.994915) + (.00037 x 16.999132) + (.00204 x 17.999160) =
(15.956527) + (0.006290)
+ (0.036718) =
15.9995
LOOK AT OXYGEN’S MASS ON THE PERIODIC TABLE.
Is it pretty close to our answer ?
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Estimating Atomic Mass
Look at our Calculated average Atomic Mass of Oxygen
(15.9995) and the relative abundance of the isotopes
Of Oxygen.
Abundance
AMU
Oxygen-16
99.762%
15.994915
Oxygen-17
0.038%
16.999132
Oxygen-18
0.200%
17.999160
Could you guess what the Calculated Atomic mass would be
Close to?
Which isotope is present in the greatest amount?
Isn’t it’s mass pretty close to the calculated value?
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Estimating Atomic Mass
1. In the following problem which isotope will have a mass
Closest to the actual atomic mass?
2. Calculate the atomic mass of Chlorine
(Assume these values are correct though they are not)
Chlorine-35
Chlorine-37
Abundance
70%
30%
AMU
35.0
37.0
1. Chlorine 35
2. (0.70 x 35) + (0.30 x 37) = 24.5 + 11.1 = 35.6 AMU
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