Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Rubidium has two isotopes, and . Its average atomic mass is . Taking each mass as its mass number, find the percentage of each isotope.
counts protons, protons plus neutrons, and . Isotopes share , isobars share , isotones share . Average atomic mass the sum of (mass share). In a mass spectrometer, , so .
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. Equation. , so .
Step 2. Share. , or rubidium-87.
Step 3. The other. rubidium-85.
Answer: rubidium-85 and rubidium-87.
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