isotope 1 has 37.40 abundance and isotope 2 has 62.60 abundance
the sum of the masses is 371.9087
how can i calculate the masses of both isotopes given this info
i set my problem up like this 371.9087= (.3740 )(mass of isotope 1) + (.6260)(mass of isotope 2)
not sure if its right but i got the wrong answer :/
the sum of the masses is 371.9087
how can i calculate the masses of both isotopes given this info
i set my problem up like this 371.9087= (.3740 )(mass of isotope 1) + (.6260)(mass of isotope 2)
not sure if its right but i got the wrong answer :/
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I think you have left out some info... the average atomic mass.
You say the sum of the masses is 371.9087
the way I read the question this is not the average atomic mass, it is the sum of the two masses.
let mass isotope 1 = a
let mass isotope 2 = b
So
average atomic mass = (.3740 )(a) + (.6260)(b)
Now
a + b = 371.9087
thus
a = 371.9087 - b
substitute this into the other equation and you can solve for b
average atomic mass = (.3740 )(371.9087 - b) + (.6260)(b)
once you rearrange it you shoud end up with
b = (average atomic mass - 139.09) / 2
Just add the average atomic mass you were hopefully given in and solve for b, which will then allow you to find a.
You say the sum of the masses is 371.9087
the way I read the question this is not the average atomic mass, it is the sum of the two masses.
let mass isotope 1 = a
let mass isotope 2 = b
So
average atomic mass = (.3740 )(a) + (.6260)(b)
Now
a + b = 371.9087
thus
a = 371.9087 - b
substitute this into the other equation and you can solve for b
average atomic mass = (.3740 )(371.9087 - b) + (.6260)(b)
once you rearrange it you shoud end up with
b = (average atomic mass - 139.09) / 2
Just add the average atomic mass you were hopefully given in and solve for b, which will then allow you to find a.