Chapter 2, Problem 2.22PAE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The table provided below shows the atomic weights of four elements with two isotopes of each of the elements. Bases on the values how will you assign the given mass spectrum to any of the four elements?

Isotopes	Atomic weight (amu)
${}^{\text{121}}\text{S}\text{b,}{}^{\text{123}}\text{S}\text{b}$	121.8
${}^{\text{185}}\text{R}\text{e,}{}^{\text{187}}\text{R}\text{e}$	186.2
${}^{\text{191}}\text{I}\text{r,}{}^{\text{193}}\text{I}\text{r}$	192.2
${}^{203}\text{T}\text{1,}{}^{205}\text{T}\text{1}$	204.4

Concept introduction:

Isotopes: The atoms of same element thus with same atomic number but different atomic mass.

As elements exist as different isotopes, and we take the weighted average of atomic masses of each isotope to calculate the atomic mass of an element.