Chapter 2, Problem 2.32P

For this problem, assume that water consistsonly of the most abundant isotopes of oxygen ( ${}^{16}\text{O}$ and ${}^{18}\text{O}$ ). Theatomic mass for ${}^{16}\text{O}$ is 15.9949146 u, and the atomic mass for ${}^{18}\text{O}$ is 17.99916 10 u.
(a) A standard seawater sample contains 0.1995% ${}^{18}\text{O}$ . Calculate the atomic weight of oxygen in seawater, and report youranswer to five decimal places.
(b) A polar ice core sample contains 0.1971% ${}^{18}\text{O}$ . Calculate theatomic weight of oxygen in polar ice, and report your answerto five decimal places.