ATOMIC MASS UNIT AND WEIGHT

1. A nickel atom with 32 neutrons has mass of 59.930788 μ. What

is its mass in grams?
Given: 59.930788 μ
Required: Atomic mass in grams
Solution:

59.930788 μ X 1.66054 x 10-24 g = 59.930788 x 1.66054 x 10-24 g = 9.9517 x 10-

23
g
1μ

2. What is the mass of 64Zn (63.9929 μ) relative to 12C?

Given: mass of 64Zn = 63.9929 μ ; mass of 12C = 12 μ

Required: Relative mass of 64Zn and 12C
Solution:

��. ���� �
��� ���� �� ����� ���� = = �. ����
���
Therefore, 64Zn is 5.3327 times heavier than 12C.

MASS NUMBER
64
3. How many protons, neutrons, and electrons are in a Zn atom?

Given: Mass number = 64

Required: Number of protons, neutrons, and electrons
Solution:
Proton = atomic number → 30
Electron = number of protons → 30
Neutrons = mass number – number of protons → 64-30 → 34

DETERMINING ATOMIC MASS AND ISOTOPIC ABUNDANCE

4. Verify that the atomic weight of chlorine is 35.45, given the
following information:
35
Cl mass= 34.96885; % abundance = 75.77%
37
Cl mass= 36.96590; % abundance = 24.23%

Given: 35Cl mass= 34.96885; % abundance = 75.77%

37
Cl mass= 36.96590; % abundance = 24.23%
Required: Average atomic weight of Cl
Solution:
% ��������� �� 35
17�� % ��������� �� 37
17��
Atomic Weight = 100
���� �� 35
17�� + 100
���� �� 37
17��

75.77% 24.23%
= 34.96885 ��� + 36.96590 ���
100 100
= 0.7577 34.96885 ��� + 0.2423 36.96590 ���
������ ����ℎ� �� �� = ��. ���� ���
 5. Antimony, Sb has two stable isotopes: 121Sb, 120.904 u, and
123Sb, 122.904 μ. What are the relative abundances of these
isotopes?
Given: 121Sb = 120.904 μ ; 123Sb = 122.904 μ
Required: Relative or % abundance of each isotope
Solution:
% ��������� �� 121
51�� % ��������� �� 123
51��
������ ������ = 100
���� �� 121
51�� + 100
���� �� 123
51��

= � 120.904� + � 122.904�
= � 120.904� + 1 − � 122.904�
Since, 100% = x + y → 1 = x + y → y = 1-x
121.760 = 120.904� + 122.904 − 122.904�
121.760 =− 2� + 122.904
2� = 1.144

� = 0.572 �� 50.72% & � = 1 − � → 1 − 0.572 → � = 0.428 �� 42.80%

Therefore, 121Sb = 50.72% ; 123Sb = 42.80%

NUCLEAR STABILITY
1.
Given: 42Li or 93Li and 20482Pb or 20985Pb
Required: Most stable isotopes
Solution:
A. It was indicated that an atom with
atomic number 1 to 20 is more stable at
4 number of neutrons 4−2 2 1:1 n/p ratio. Lithium has an atomic
2Li = = = = 1: 1 number of 3 and 4Li is more stable than
number of protons 2 2 9
Li because it has an n/p ratio of 1:1.

9
number of neutrons 9−3 6 2
3Li = = = = = 2: 0
number of protons 3 3 0
 It was indicated that an atom with
atomic number greater than 83 is
radioactive and unstable. And also
B. Pb(Lead) has an atomic number of 82
not 85. Therefore, 204Pb are more stable.

204
number of neutrons 204 − 82 122 61
82Pb = = = =
number of protons 82 82 41

209 number of neutrons 209 − 85 124

85Pb = = = = 1.45882
number of protons 85 85

RADIOACTIVITY
1.a. Write equations for the following nuclear reactions and confirm
that they are balanced with respect nuclear mass and nuclear
charge.

Given: The emission of an α particle by Radon-222 to form polonium-218

Required: Chemical equation
Solution:
1.b. Given:The emission of a β particle by polonium-218 to form astatine-218
Required: Chemical equation
Solution:

3.
�� �
���� → −�� + _______________

��
���� → �
−�� + ��
����
4. 24095Am + __________________ → 243
97Bk + 10n
95Am + 2He → 97Bk + 0n
240 4 243 1

Mass number( protons +

240 4 = 243 1
nuetrons)
Atomic numbers(protons) 95 2 = 97 0

5. 23892U + 126C → 244

98Cf + __________________
92U + 6C → 98Cf + 6[10n]
238 12 244

Mass number( protons +

238 12 = 244 6
nuetrons)
Atomic numbers(protons) 92 6 = 98 0
 6. 4019K → 4020Ca + __________________
19K → 20Ca + -1e
40 40 0

Mass number( protons +

40 = 40 0
nuetrons)
Atomic numbers(protons) 19 = 20 -1
HALF-LIFE
1. Radon-226 has a half -life of 1620 years. How many years will
it take for 1.0 g of Radon-226 to be reduced to 0.25 g? How
much remains after the third half-life?

Given: Nt = 0.25 g; No = 1.0g; t1/2 = 1620 years

Required: Time t required to required to reduced a 1.0 g Ra-226 to 0.25g and the
amount of Ra-226 after its third half-life.
Solution:

STEP 1: Find the disintegration constant, k using t1/2 = ln2/k.

��(2)
�1 =
2 �
��(2)
1620 ��� =
�
��(2)
� =
1620
� = �. ���� � ��−� /��
STEP 2: Calculate the time t to be reduced into 0.25 g.
�� = �0 �−��
−4 �
0.25 � = (1.0�)�−4.2787�10
0.25 � −4
= �−4.2787�10 �
1.0�
0.25 −4
ln = ln (�−4.2787�10 � )
1.0
0.25
ln = ( − 4.2787�10−4 �)ln(�)
1.0
 0.25
ln = ( − 4.2787�10−4 �)(1)
1.0
0.25
ln = ( − 4.2787�10−4 )�
1.0
0.25
ln
� = 1.0
−4.2787�10−4 ��
� = 3.24 � 103 �����
� = 3240 �����
STEP 3: Find the remaining mass of Ra-226 after its third life.
Given: n = 3, N0=1.0 g
�
�� 1
=
�0 2
3
�� 1
=
1.0 2
�� 1
=
1.0 8
�� = 0.125�
2. The half life of
11
6 C is 20.3 min. How long will it take for
92.5% of a sample to decay? How long will it take for 99.0% of
the sample to decay?

Given: t1/2 = 20.3 min

Required: Time t required to decay a.) 92.5% b.) 99.0% of 116C
Solution:
Basis for Calculation: N0 = 1.0 g
a. 92.5% → 92.5%(1.0g) → 0.925 g →Nt = 1-0.925g →Nt = 0.075 g
STEP 1: Find the disintegration constant, k using t1/2 = ln2/k.
��(2)
�1 =
2 �
��(2)
20.3 ��� =
�
��(2)
� =
20.3
� = �. ����/���

STEP 2: Calculate the time t.

�� = �0 �−��
0.075 � = (1.0�)�−0.0341�
0.075 �
= �−0.0341�
1.0�
0.075
ln = ln (�−0.0341� )
1.0
0.075
ln = ( − 0.0341�)ln(�)
1.0
0.075
ln = ( − 0.0341�)(1)
1.0
0.075
ln = ( − 0.0341 )�
1.0
0.075
ln
� = 1.0
−0.0341 ���
 � = 75.96091 ����
� ≈ 75.96 ����

b. 99.0% → 99.0%(1.0g) → 0.99 g →Nt = 1-0.99g →Nt = 0.01 g

� = �. ����/���
STEP 2: Calculate the time t.
�� = �0 �−��
0.01 � = (1.0�)�−0.0341�
0.01 �
= �−0.0341�
1.0�
0.01
ln = ln (�−0.0341� )
1.0
0.01
ln = ( − 0.0341�)ln(�)
1.0
0.01
ln = ( − 0.0341�)(1)
1.0
0.01
ln = ( − 0.0341 )�
1.0
0.01
ln
� = 1.0
−0.0341 ���
� = 135.04897 ����
� ≈ 135.04 ����
RADIOACTIVE DECAY
1.
Given: t1/2 = 5.05 x 1010 sec
Required:
a) Calculate k in s.
b) What is the activity in curies of a 1.00-g sample of Ra-226?

Solution:
A. Calculate k.
��(2)
�1 =
2 �
��(2)
5.05 � 1010 ��� =
�
��(2)
� =
5.05 � 1010 ���
� = �. �� � ��−�� /���
B. What is the activity in curies of a 1.00-g sample of Ra-226?
� = ��

−11
6.022 �1023 �����
� = (1.37 � 10 /���) 1.0� ×
226 �

� = (1.37 � 10−11 /���) 2.66 × 1021 �����

� = (3.65 × 1010 �����/���)
1 ��
� = 3.65 × 1010 �����/��� ×
3.7 × 1010 �����/���
� = �. ��� ��
BINDING ENERGY & MASS DEFECT
1. Calculate the mass defect and binding enery when a mole of
deuterium is separated into protons and neutrons
Given: 21� → 10� + 11�
Required: Mass defect(Δ) of deuterium and binding energy(Eb)
Solution:

STEP 1: Determine the atomic mass of the reactant and product.

� �
�� → �� + ���
(Reactant) (Products)

Atomic Masses: 21H = 2.0141 g/mol

0n = 1.008665 g/mol
1

1H = 1.007285 g/mol
1

� � �
�� → �� + ��

(2.0141 g/mol) (1.008665 g/mol) (1.007285 g/mol)

STEP 2: Calculate for the mass defect (Δ).
���� ������ �� (∆�) = ���� �� �������� − ���� �� ���������
∆� = [1.008665 �/��� + 1.007285 �/���] − 2.014 1�/���
∆� = 2.01595 �/��� − 2.014 1�/���
∆� = �. ����� �/���
Therefore, there is a 0.00185 g/mol mass defect of 21H when compared
to the predicted mass.

STEP 3: Calculate the binding energy Eb to separate the the isotope.

�� = ∆� �2
1 �� 2
�� = 0.00185 �/��� � 3�108 �/�
1000�
�� = 1.85�10−6 ��/��� (9�1016 �2 /�2 )
��
�� = (1.6650 × 1011 ) × × �2 /�2 )
���
�� = �. ���� �/���
 2. What is the mass of helium-4 nucleus compared to the sum of
its nucleons? The mass of helium-4 nucleus is 4.00150 amu.
Proton mass is 1.007285 and neutron mass is 1.008665 amu.

Given: 42�� → 2 1
+1� + 2 10�
Required: Mass defect(Δ) of deuterium and binding energy(Eb)
Solution:

STEP 1: Determine the atomic mass of the reactant and product.

� �
��� → � +�� + � ���
(Reactant) (Products)
Atomic Mass: 4.00150 amu 2(1.007285 amu) 2(1.008665 amu)

STEP 2: Calculate for the mass defect (Δ).

���� ������ �� (∆�) = ���� �� �������� − ���� �� ���������
∆� = [2(1.007285 ���) + 2(1.008665 ���)] − 4.00150 ���
∆� = 4.0319 ��� − 4.00150 ���
∆� = �. ���� ���
Therefore, there is a 0.0304 amu mass defect of 42He when compared to
the predicted mass.
 3. Calculate the binding energy necessary to separate the
nucleons of He-4 atoms into two protons and two neutrons.
Given: Δm = 0.0304 amu = 0.0304 g/mol
�� = ∆� �2
1 �� 2
�� = 0.0304 �/��� � 3�108 �/�
1000�
�� = 3.04 × 10−5 ��/��� (9�1016 �2 /�2 )
��
�� = (2.736 × 1012 ) × × �2 /�2 )
���
�� = �. ��� × ���� �/���