Chapter 8 Atoms and Elements

Isotopes and Atomic Mass

24Mg 25Mg 26Mg

12 12 12
Copyright 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.

1
Isotopes

Isotopes
are atoms of the same element that have different
mass numbers.
have the same number of protons, but different
numbers of neutrons.

2
Atomic Symbol

An atomic symbol
represents a particular atom of an element.
gives the mass number in the upper left corner and
the atomic number in the lower left corner.
Example: An atom of sodium with atomic number 11
and a mass number 23 has the following atomic
symbol:
mass number 23
Na
atomic number 11

3
Information from Atomic Symbols

The atomic symbol for a specific atom of an element

gives the
number of protons (p+),
number of neutrons (n),
and number of electrons (e-).

4
Information from Atomic Symbols

Examples of number of subatomic particles for atoms

Atomic symbol
16 31 65
O P Zn
8 15 30

8 p+ 15 p+ 30 p+
8n 16 n 35 n
8 e- 15 e- 30 e-

5
Learning Check

Naturally occurring carbon consists of three isotopes:

12C, 13C, and 14C. State the number of protons,

neutrons, and electrons in each of the following:

12C 13C 14C
6 6 6

protons ______ ______ ______

neutrons ______ ______ ______
electrons ______ ______ ______

6
Solution

12C 13C 14C

6 6 6

protons 6 p+ 6 p+ 6 p+
neutrons 6n 7n 8n
electrons 6 e- 6 e- 6 e-

7
Learning Check

Write the atomic symbols for atoms with the

following subatomic particles:

A. 8 p+, 8 n, 8 e- ___________

B. 17p+, 20n, 17e- ___________

C. 47p+, 60 n, 47 e- ___________

8
Solution

A. 8 p+, 8 n, 8 e- 16O

B. 17p+, 20 n, 17e- 37Cl

17

C. 47p+, 60 n, 47 e- 107Ag
47

9
Learning Check

1. Which of the pairs are isotopes of the same element?

2. In which of the pairs do both atoms have 8 neutrons?

A. 15X 15X
8 7

B. 12X 14X
6 6

C. 15X 16X
7 8

10
Solution

B. 12X 14X

6 6

The atomic symbols in B. represent isotopes of

carbon with 6 protons each, but one has 6 neutrons
and the other has 8.

C. 15X 16X

7 8

These isotopes of nitrogen and oxygen have 8

neutrons.

11
Isotopes of Magnesium

12
Isotopes of Magnesium

13
Isotopes of Sulfur

A sample of naturally
occurring sulfur contains
several isotopes with the
following abundances
Isotope % abundance
32S 95.02
33S 0.75
34S 32S, 33S, 34S, 36S
4.21
16 16 16 16
36S 0.02
Copyright 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc.

14
Atomic Mass

The atomic mass of an element

is listed below the symbol of each element
on the periodic table. Na
gives the mass of an average atom of 22.99
each element compared to 12C.

is not the same as the mass number.

15
Isotopes of Some Elements and
Their Atomic Mass
Most elements have two or more isotopes that
contribute to the atomic mass of that element.

16
Atomic Mass for Cl

The atomic mass of chlorine is

due to all the Cl isotopes.
not a whole number.
the average of two isotopes:
35Cl and 37Cl.

17
Learning Check

Using the periodic table, specify the atomic mass of

each element.
A. calcium __________
B. aluminum __________
C. lead __________
D. barium __________
E. iron __________

18
Solution

Using the periodic table, specify the atomic mass of

each element:
A. calcium 40.08 amu
B. aluminum 26.98 amu
C. lead 207.2 amu
D. barium 137.3 amu
E. iron 55.85 amu

19
 Calculating Atomic Mass

The calculation for atomic mass requires the

percent(%) abundance of each isotope.
atomic mass of each isotope of that element.
sum of the weighted averages.

mass of isotope(1)x (%) + mass of isotope(2) x (%) +

100 100

20
Calculating Atomic Mass for Cl
35Cl has atomic mass 34.97 amu (75.76%) and 37C
has atomic mass 36.97 amu (24.24%).
Use atomic mass and percent of each isotope to
calculate the contribution of each isotope to the
weighted average.
34.97 x 75.76 = 26.49 amu
100
36.97 x 24.24 = 8.961 amu
100
Sum is atomic mass of Cl 35.45 amu

21
Calculating Atomic Mass Mg
Isotope Mass Abundance

24Mg = 23.99 amu x 78.70/100 = 18.88 amu

25Mg = 24.99 amu x 10.13/100 = 2.531 amu
26Mg = 25.98 amu x 11.17/100 = 2.902 amu

Atomic mass (average mass) Mg = 24.31 amu

22
Atomic Mass of Magnesium
The atomic mass of Mg
is due to all the Mg
isotopes.
is a weighted average.
is not a whole number.

23
Learning Check

Gallium is an element found in lasers used in compact

disc players. In a sample of gallium, there is 60.10%
of 69Ga (atomic mass 68.926) atoms and 39.90% of
71Ga (atomic mass 70.925) atoms.

What is the atomic mass of gallium?

24
Solution

69Ga

68.926 amu x 60.10 = 41.42 amu (from 69Ga)

100
71Ga

70.925 amu x 39.90 = 28.30 amu (from 71Ga)

100
31
Atomic mass Ga = 69.72 amu
Ga
69.72

25