Naturally occurring silver (Ag) consists of two isotopes. One of the isotopes has a mass of 106.

step 1 To solve this problem we'll use the formula that the atomic mass from the periodic table is equa

Naturally occurring silver (Ag) consists of two isotopes....

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Key Concepts

Isotopes

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, which gives them different atomic masses. Their properties are nearly identical chemically, though they may have different physical properties due to the mass difference.

Percent Abundance

Percent abundance describes the relative amount of each isotope found in a naturally occurring sample of an element. This value is expressed as a percentage and is essential for calculating the average atomic mass of an element by weighting the individual isotopic masses according to their natural occurrence.

Weighted Average Atomic Mass

The weighted average atomic mass of an element is calculated by multiplying the mass of each isotope by its percent abundance (expressed as a fraction), and then summing these products. This concept is critical in understanding that the atomic mass listed on the periodic table is not simply one isotope’s mass, but a weighted average reflecting all naturally occurring isotopes of the element.

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