Boron has two naturally occurring isotopes: boron-10 with a mass of 10.01 amu and a natural abundance of 19.9%, and boron-11 with a mass of 11.01 amu and a natural abundance of 80.1%. The average atomic mass of boron is _______ amu.
Answer & Analysis
Analysis
Question Analysis
This question tests the student's ability to calculate the average atomic mass of an element using the given isotopic masses and natural abundances.
Key Concept Explanation
The average atomic mass is the sum of the products of the isotopic masses and their respective fractional abundances.
Step-by-step Solution
1. Convert the natural abundances to fractional abundances: for boron-10 and for boron-11.
2. Use the formula: .
3. Calculate the contribution of each isotope:
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