Question

Question: The stable isotopes of iron are. The mass spectrum of ${}^{54}Fe,{}^{56}Fe,{}^{57}Fe,{}^{58}Fe$iron looks like the flowing:

Use the data on the mass spectrum to estimate the average atomic mass of iron and compare it with the value given in the table inside the front cover of this book.

Short answer

Answer

The average atomic mass is 55.91 and the difference is 0.0598.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Isotopes

The protons are same in isotopes and the neutrons are differs each other. So, the mass number is different in each isotope.

Finding of mass spectrum

The data’sare find using the mass spectrumas,

 Step 3: Calculation of average atomic mass

$$\begin{gathered} =\frac{5.85}{100}\times 54+\frac{91.75}{100}\times 56+\frac{2.12}{100}\times 57+\frac{0.28}{100}\times 58 \\ =3.159+51.38+1.2084+0.1624 \\ =55.9098 \end{gathered}$$

Theiron atomic mass is 55.85 and the difference of atomic mass is 0.0598.