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Solved: The atomic mass of fluorine is 19.00 amu, and all fluorine atoms in a naturally
Chapter 4, Problem 119P(choose chapter or problem)
The atomic mass of fluorine is 19.00 amu, and all fluorine atoms in a naturally occurring sample of fluorine have this mass. The atomic mass of chlorine is 35.45 amu, but no chlorine atoms in a naturally occurring sample of chlorine have this mass. Provide an explanation for the difference.
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QUESTION:
The atomic mass of fluorine is 19.00 amu, and all fluorine atoms in a naturally occurring sample of fluorine have this mass. The atomic mass of chlorine is 35.45 amu, but no chlorine atoms in a naturally occurring sample of chlorine have this mass. Provide an explanation for the difference.
ANSWER:Solution 119P
The atomic mass of F is 19 amu whereas the atomic mass of Cl is 35.45. This can be explained properly on the basis of isotopes and its natural abundance. When the atoms have same atomic number but different mass number is called isotopes.
Fluorine has 18 isotopes from 14F to 31F and among all, only F-19 is stable having 100% natural abundance. All other isotopes are very unstable. Therefore, the atomic mass of Fluorine is 19 amu.
On the other hand Chlorine has two naturally occurring isotopes. These are 35