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Chapter 2: Problem 16

What fraction or percentage of carbon atoms has a mass of \(12.011\) amu?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The percentage of carbon atoms having a mass of 12.011 amu is 0% because the atomic mass of an element represents the weighted average of the masses of its naturally occurring isotopes.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding atomic mass

The atomic mass value listed on the periodic table is a weighted average that takes the relative abundances of an element's naturally occurring isotopes into account.
02

Identify atomic mass of Carbon

In this case, the atomic mass of carbon is given as 12.011 atomic mass units (amu). This value is derived from the masses and relative abundances of carbon's naturally occurring isotopes.
03

Understand isotopic mass

Because isotopic masses are whole numbers (most carbon atoms, for example, have a mass of 12 amu), the question's premise presents an anomaly: no individual carbon atom has a mass of 12.011 amu.
04

Conclusion

Therefore, the percentage of carbon atoms with a mass of 12.011 amu is zero because this mass represents a weighted average, not a mass that individual carbon atoms possess.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Give two interpretations of the number "12.011" found below the symbol for carbon on the periodic table.

Which has more atoms: \(1.008 \mathrm{~g}\) of hydrogen or \(39.95 \mathrm{~g}\) of argon? Explain your reasoning.

Without using a calculator, a) Which weighs more, 18 elephants or two dozen elephants? b) Which weighs more, \(5.136 \times 10^{23}\) sodium atoms or one mole of sodium atoms?

What is the mass (in amu) of a) \(100^{12} \mathrm{C}\) atoms? b) \(100^{13} \mathrm{C}\) atoms?

Find the symbol for chlorine on the periodic table. a) How does the number given just below the symbol for chlorine (rounded to \(0.01\) ) compare with the average mass (amu) of one chlorine atom? b) How does the number given just below the symbol for chlorine (rounded to 0.01) compare with the mass (grams) of \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) chlorine atoms?
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