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The atomic mass of copper is 63.546. The two naturally occurring isotopes of copper have the following masses: 63Cu: 62.9298; 65Cu, 64.19278. How do I calculate the percentage abundance of 63Cu in nature?
100208

Corrie writes ....
 
Assume the fraction of 63Cu atoms is Z.
Then the fraction of 65Cu atoms will be 1-Z
 
The average mass (atomic weight) is then:
 
= (62.9298 x Z) + [64.19278 x (1-Z)] = 63.546
 
Solve for Z. Multiply Z by 100 to find the percentage abundance.
 
(Are you sure your second isotopic mass is 6419278, and not 64.9278?)
 

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updated: 11 February 2008

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