Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Natural boron has two stable isotopes. Boron-10 has an atomic mass of and boron-11 has . The average atomic mass of natural boron is . Boron-10 absorbs neutrons strongly, and boron compounds are used in the control rods of nuclear reactors. Find the percentage of each isotope by number of atoms. Then find the mass of boron-10 in of natural boron.
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.
Plan. The average mass is a weighted mean. Solve it for .
Step 1. The equation. .
Step 2. Solve. , so .
Step 3. Percentages. Boron-10 is and boron-11 is .
Step 4. Mass of boron-10. The mass fraction is . In there is , which is .
Answer: boron-10, boron-11, and of boron-10.
Check. The mass fraction () is a little smaller than the atom fraction (), because a boron-10 atom is lighter than the average.
Source. Isotope masses are the values of the atomic mass evaluation (AME2020), and is a standard atomic weight of boron.
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To make a gaseous ion, the three electrons leave one after the other. The energy is the sum . A weighted mean of isotope masses is . Aluminium dissolves in alkali: , so 2 mol of Al give 3 mol of H.