An isotope of an element has 20 protons and a mass number of 42. What is the atomic mass of this isotope if the mass of a proton is approximately 1.0073 amu and the mass of a neutron is approximately 1.0087 amu?
Options
A
42.0000 amu
B
42.1740 amu
C
42.3374 amu
D
42.0087 amu
Answer & Analysis
Answer
C
Analysis
Question Analysis
This question evaluates the student's ability to calculate the atomic mass of an isotope given the number of protons, neutrons, and their respective masses.
Key Concept Explanation
The atomic mass of an isotope is the sum of the masses of its protons and neutrons. The mass of a proton is approximately 1.0073 amu, and the mass of a neutron is approximately 1.0087 amu.
Step-by-step Solution
1. Identify the number of protons and neutrons in the isotope.
2. Number of protons = 20
3. Mass number = 42 → Number of neutrons = 42 - 20 = 22
4. Calculate the total mass of protons:
5. Calculate the total mass of neutrons:
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