Why is the atomic mass of iron, 55.845 amu, most similar to the mass of iron-56, yet less than 56 amu? The atomic mass is the simple average of the masses of the two most abundant isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu. The atomic mass is the simple average of the masses of all of the isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu. The atomic mass is the weighted average of the masses of the two most abundant isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu. The atomic mass is the weighted average of the masses of all of the isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu.

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Chapter2: Atoms Molecules And Ions
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Problem 158GQ: Mass spectrometric analysis showed that there are four isotopes of an unknown element having the...
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Why is the atomic mass of iron, 55.845 amu, most similar to the mass of iron-56, yet less than 56 amu?
The atomic mass is the simple average of the masses of the two most abundant isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant
isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54,
which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu.
The atomic mass is the simple average of the masses of all of the isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant isotope, so the
atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54, which reduces
the atomic mass to less than 56 amu.
The atomic mass is the weighted average of the masses of the two most abundant isotopes. Iron-56 is the most
abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope
is iron-54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu.
The atomic mass is the weighted average of the masses of all of the isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant isotope, so
the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54, which
reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu.
Transcribed Image Text:Why is the atomic mass of iron, 55.845 amu, most similar to the mass of iron-56, yet less than 56 amu? The atomic mass is the simple average of the masses of the two most abundant isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu. The atomic mass is the simple average of the masses of all of the isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu. The atomic mass is the weighted average of the masses of the two most abundant isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu. The atomic mass is the weighted average of the masses of all of the isotopes. Iron-56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron-56. The second most abundant isotope is iron-54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu.
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