College

A robot spacecraft returned samples from the planetesimal 98765 ALEKS, located in the outer Solar System. Mass-spectroscopic analysis produced the following data on the isotopes of molybdenum in these samples:

[tex]
\[
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|}
\hline
\text{Isotope} & \begin{tabular}{c}
\text{Mass} \\
(\text{amu})
\end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c}
\text{Relative} \\
\text{Abundance}
\end{tabular} \\
\hline
${ }^{98} \text{Mo}$ & 97.9 & 97.5\% \\
\hline
${ }^{95} \text{Mo}$ & 94.9 & 2.5\% \\
\hline
\end{tabular}
\]
[/tex]

Use these measurements to complete the entry for molybdenum in the Periodic Table that would be used on 98765 ALEKS. Round your entry for the atomic mass to 3 significant digits.

Caution: Your correct answer will have the same format but not necessarily the same numbers as the entry for molybdenum in the Periodic Table we use here on Earth.

Answer :

To determine the atomic mass of molybdenum on the planetesimal 98765 ALEKS, we need to calculate a weighted average based on the isotopes' masses and their relative abundances. Here's how you can do it step-by-step:

1. Identify the Isotopes and Their Properties:
- Isotope [tex]\(^{98}\text{Mo}\)[/tex]:
- Mass = 97.9 amu
- Relative abundance = 97.5%
- Isotope [tex]\(^{95}\text{Mo}\)[/tex]:
- Mass = 94.9 amu
- Relative abundance = 2.5%

2. Convert Relative Abundances to Fractions:
- For [tex]\(^{98}\text{Mo}\)[/tex], convert 97.5% to a fraction: 97.5% = 0.975
- For [tex]\(^{95}\text{Mo}\)[/tex], convert 2.5% to a fraction: 2.5% = 0.025

3. Calculate the Weighted Average Atomic Mass:
We multiply each isotope's mass by its fractional abundance and add these values together to find the atomic mass.
- Contribution from [tex]\(^{98}\text{Mo}\)[/tex]: [tex]\(97.9 \times 0.975 = 95.5275\)[/tex]
- Contribution from [tex]\(^{95}\text{Mo}\)[/tex]: [tex]\(94.9 \times 0.025 = 2.3725\)[/tex]

Add these contributions together:
[tex]\[
\text{Atomic mass} = 95.5275 + 2.3725 = 97.9
\][/tex]

4. Round the Atomic Mass to 3 Significant Digits:
The calculated atomic mass of molybdenum for the planetesimal 98765 ALEKS, rounded to three significant digits, is 97.8.

This atomic mass is specific to the composition of isotopes on the planetesimal 98765 ALEKS and may differ from the periodic table used on Earth.