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Percent Abundance Formula:
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The Percent Abundance Calculator calculates the percentage abundance of two oxygen isotopes (O-16, O-18) based on their atomic masses and the average atomic mass. This calculation is essential in chemistry for determining isotopic composition.
The calculator uses the percent abundance formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the percentage of the first isotope based on the difference between the average mass and the second isotope's mass relative to the total mass difference.
Details: Calculating percent abundance is crucial for understanding isotopic composition, which affects atomic weight calculations and has applications in geochemistry, environmental science, and nuclear chemistry.
Tips: Enter average atomic mass in amu, mass of first isotope in amu, and mass of second isotope in amu. All values must be positive and Mass1 cannot equal Mass2.
Q1: What are the common oxygen isotopes?
A: Oxygen has three stable isotopes: O-16 (most abundant), O-17, and O-18. This calculator focuses on O-16 and O-18.
Q2: Why is percent abundance important?
A: Percent abundance determines the average atomic mass of an element and is used in various scientific fields including paleoclimatology and hydrology.
Q3: What units should be used?
A: All masses should be in atomic mass units (amu) for accurate calculations.
Q4: Can this calculator be used for other elements?
A: Yes, the same formula applies to any element with two isotopes, though the specific masses will differ.
Q5: What if Mass1 equals Mass2?
A: The calculation is undefined when Mass1 equals Mass2 as it would involve division by zero. Ensure different mass values.