Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Natural lithium is mostly lithium-7. For some special uses, lithium is enriched, so that it is lithium-6 and lithium-7. Find the average atomic mass of the enriched lithium. Is it more or less than that of natural lithium?
The atomic mass of an element is the average of its isotopes' masses, weighted by how common each one is: . When the average is known, let be one percentage and solve for it.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Weight each isotope. and .
Step 2. Add and divide. .
Step 3. Compare. Natural lithium has much less lithium-6, so its average is closer to . The enriched lithium is lighter.
Answer: , less than natural lithium.
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