Chapter 1, Problem 19P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The relative atomic mass of B-11 isotope of boron needs to be determined.

Concept Introduction: Isotope is defined as atoms of same element with same atomic number but different mass number.

The average atomic mass is calculated from percentage abundance and isotopic mass. If there are two isotopes of an atom, say A and B, the following formula is used to calculate the atomic mass of isotope.

  $\text{Atomic mass}=\text{\%A}\times {\text{M}}_{\text{A}}\text{+\%B}\times {\text{M}}_{\text{B}}$

Here, %A is percentage abundance of isotope-A, M_A is isotopic mass of A, %B is percentage abundance of isotope-B and M_B is isotopic mass of B.