A QUICK REVIEW OF THE ATOM

If you change the It will affect the And the result

number of will be a
Protons Identity of the completely
atom different atom

Electrons
Charge Ion

Neutrons Mass Isotope

WHAT ARE ISOTOPES?

They are atoms of the same element that have

different numbers of neutrons.
Its just a change in the
neutrizzle fo shizzle!!!
AN EXAMPLE

Hydrogen has 3 isotopes

There are 3 different versions of a hydrogen atom

Note how the number of

protons never change!!!
AN EXAMPLE

Hydrogen has 3 isotopes

There are 3 different versions of a hydrogen atom

Having more neutrons

increases the mass
AN EXAMPLE

Hydrogen has 3 isotopes

There are 3 different versions of a hydrogen atom

Mass number = 2
WHY DOES THE ATOMIC MASS ON THE PERIODIC
TABLE HAVE SO MANY DECIMAL PLACES?
ATOMIC MASS
1

H
1.00797

This atomic mass is the one number that best

represents the mass of all three versions of hydrogen.
ATOMIC MASS
1

H
1.00797

No atom of hydrogen anywhere in the universe actually

has this mass.
ATOMIC MASS
1

H
1.00797

This number is a weighted average of the masses of

every isotope of hydrogen
CALCULATING A WEIGHTED AVERAGE

1. First, you have to know the mass of each isotope

2. Second, you have to know the percent abundance* of
each isotope

*see next slide

PERCENT ABUNDANCE?

Percent abundance is how often that particular isotope

occurs in a sample of the element

A sample of magnesium
collected anywhere in the
universe will contain three
isotopes of magnesium.
Sample of Magnesium
PERCENT ABUNDANCE?
These are the percent abundances of each isotope of
magnesium

78.90% of this magnesium will be

the isotope named magnesium 24

10.00% of this magnesium will be

the isotope named magnesium 25

Sample of Magnesium
11.10% of this magnesium will be
the isotope named magnesium 26
PERCENT ABUNDANCE?
This data will be provided to you in problems or you will
be given a table where you can look it up.

78.90% of this magnesium will be

the isotope named magnesium 24

10.00% of this magnesium will be

the isotope named magnesium 25

Sample of Magnesium
11.10% of this magnesium will be
the isotope named magnesium 26
CALCULATING A WEIGHTED AVERAGE

The formula
(Mass of isotope #1)(percent abundance)
100

(Mass of isotope #2)(percent abundance)

100

(Mass of isotope #3)(percent abundance)

100
CALCULATE THE ATOMIC MASS OF MAGNESIUM
FROM THE GIVEN DATA

# protons # neutrons Mass %

(amus) abundance

Isotope 1 12 12 23.985045 78.90%

(magnesium-24)

Isotope 2 12 13 24.985839 10.00%

(magnesium-25)

Isotope 3 12 14 25.982595 11.10%

(magnesium-26)
CALCULATING THE ATOMIC MASS OF MAGNESIUM
Using the formula for calculating a weighted average
Since its a weighted
average this number
23.985045(.7890) has more influence since
this mass occurs 79% of
+24.985839(.1000) the time
+25.982595(.1110) Its NOT just a straight
average where you add
24.306852 amus the masses and divide
by 3
Note how the %
abundances were
converted to decimals
(just divide each by 100)
TRY ANOTHER EXAMPLE
CALCULATE THE ATOMIC MASS OF CHROMIUM

Isotope Mass % abundance

#1 49.946046 4.35

#2 51.940510 83.79

#3 52.940651 9.50

#4 53.938882 2.36
CALCULATE THE ATOMIC MASS OF CHROMIUM

49.946046(0.0435)
51.940510(0.8379)
+ 52.940651(0.0950)
53.938882(0.0236)
51.995926 amus
 VOCABULARY REVIEW

Terms associated with isotopes

VOCABULARY REVIEW

Atomic number = the number of protons

Itsthe same as the elements position on

the periodic table
For example, carbon is the 6th element on the
table, so its atomic number is 6 which means
it has 6 protons (and 6 electrons if its a
neutral atom)
VOCABULARY REVIEW

Atomic mass = the weighted average

mass of all the different isotopes of an
atom

This is the weird number on the periodic

table that usually has a bunch of places past
the decimal point
 VOCABULARY REVIEW

Mass number = the sum of protons + neutrons

This one kind of makes sense because the

electrons essentially dont have any mass
This HAS to be a whole number because you cant
have part of a proton or neutron
Mass number is NOT given on the periodic table
LETS PRACTICE THOSE TERMS
1. What is the mass number of a carbon atom
that has 6 neutrons? 7 neutrons?
2. How many neutrons does a nitrogen atom
have if its mass number is 14?
3. How many neutrons does a chlorine atom
have if its mass number is 36?
4. What is the atomic number of neon?
5. What is the atomic mass of neon?
ANSWERS

1. 12 and 13
2. 7
3. 19
4. 10
5. 20.180 amus
 AX NOTATION FOR ISOTOPES
Z

A shorthand way to write isotopes

A SHORT WAY TO WRITE ISOTOPES

A is the symbol
for Mass Number AX Z is the
(#protons + #neutrons)
Z symbol for
Atomic Number
(# of protons)
X will be the
symbol of the
element
JAY - Z
Yo! If youre doin chem
problems I feel bad for you
son.

I got 99 problems, and heres the

first one.HIT ME!!!!
PROBLEM #1

Write aXz notation for an isotope that has 17

protons and 18 neutrons.
PROBLEM #1

Write aXz notation for an isotope that has 17

protons and 18 neutrons.

35
Cl 17
PROBLEM #2

Write aXz notation for an isotope that has 19

protons and 21 neutrons.
PROBLEM #2

Write aXz notation for an isotope that has 19

protons and 21 neutrons.

40K
19
PROBLEM #3

Write aXz notation for an isotope that has

15 protons, 18 electrons, and 16
neutrons.
PROBLEM #3

Write aXz notation for an isotope that has

15 protons, 18 electrons, and 16
neutrons.

31
P 3-
15
PROBLEM #4

How many protons, electrons, and neutrons are in

this isotope?

41
Ca 2+
20
PROBLEM #4

How many protons, electrons, and neutrons are in

this isotope?

41
Ca 2+
20
20 protons, 18 electrons, 21 neutrons
MORE EXAMPLES

How many protons, electrons, and neutrons?

1. 56Fe2+
26

2. 27Al3+
13

3. 79Se2-
34
MORE EXAMPLES

How many protons, electrons, and neutrons?

1. 56Fe2+ 26, 24, 30

26

2. 27Al3+ 13, 10, 14

13

3. 79Se2- 34, 36, 45

34
MORE PRACTICE

Write aXz notation for:

1. Isotope with 21 protons, 18 electrons, and 24
neutrons

2. Isotope with 53 protons, 74 neutrons, and 54

electrons
MORE PRACTICE

Write aXz notation for:

1. Isotope with 21 protons, 18 electrons, and 24
neutrons
45Sc3+
21
2. Isotope with 53 protons, 74 neutrons, and 54
electrons
127I-
53
DIFFERENT FORMS OF AXZ

35Cl17 is the same as 3517Cl

Might also see Cl-35 or chlorine-35