Scribd
Upload
66 views1 page

Mass Spectrometry of Isotopes and Chlorine

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different masses due to varying numbers of neutrons. The relative atomic mass of an element is a weighted average of the masses of its isotopes, with carbon-12 as the standard scale. Mass spectrometry determines the relative isotopic masses (m/z values) of ions, such as strontium-88 ions. For strontium, the relative atomic mass calculated from the m/z values and natural abundances of its four major isotopes is 87.7 to three significant figures.

Uploaded by

Khondokar Tarakky
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
66 views1 page

Mass Spectrometry of Isotopes and Chlorine

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different masses due to varying numbers of neutrons. The relative atomic mass of an element is a weighted average of the masses of its isotopes, with carbon-12 as the standard scale. Mass spectrometry determines the relative isotopic masses (m/z values) of ions, such as strontium-88 ions. For strontium, the relative atomic mass calculated from the m/z values and natural abundances of its four major isotopes is 87.7 to three significant figures.

Uploaded by

Khondokar Tarakky
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Chemguide answers

MASS SPECTRA OF ELEMENTS


1. a) Isotopes are atoms of the same element (and so with the same number of protons), but with
different masses due to having different numbers of neutrons.
b) The relative atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of the masses of the isotopes on a
scale on which a carbon-12 atom has a mass of exactly 12 units.
c) Because you only have 1+ ions, the m/z value tells you the relative isotopic masses.
Of 100 typical atoms,
the total mass = (0.56 x 84) + (9.86 x 86) + (7.00 x 87) + (82.58 x 88) = 8771.04
Relative atomic mass = 8771.04/100 = 87.7 (to 3 significant figures - no more!)
(Actually, it is debatable here whether even 3 significant figures can be justified - the m/z values are
only given to 2 significant figures, as is the abundance of the 84Sr. If the 84 value is taken as the
mass number, then that has to be exactly right. However, the actual mass, as found from the mass
spectrometer, will be a little bit less than this. For example, the actual isotopic mass of 84Sr is
83.913430. Some mass is converted to energy (binding energy) and released when atoms are
formed from their constituent bits.
For exam purposes at this level, you would almost certainly be safe to quote to 3 significant
figures.)
2. a) Chlorine goes into the mass spectrometer as molecules, Cl2. Ionisation of these gives the lines at
70/72/74. But the Cl2+ ions aren't very stable and some of them split to give a Cl+ ion and a chlorine
atom. The Cl+ ions give the lines at 35/37.
b)
m/z

caused by

35

35

37

37

70

Cl2+ molecular ions containing two 35Cl atoms

72

Cl2+ molecular ions containing one 35Cl and one 37Cl atom

74

Cl2+ molecular ions containing two 37Cl atoms

Cl ions
Cl+ ions

c) 35Cl is approximately 3 times more abundant than 37Cl.


d) 9 : 6 : 1
e) There is no way of predicting what proportion of the Cl2+ molecular ions will split up to give Cl+
ions and a chlorine atom.
[Link]

You might also like