How to Calculate Abundance of Isotopes?

Let the total atomic mass be the weighted average of the isotopes

Use the equation: average atomic mass = (mass of isotope 1 × abundance of isotope 1) + (mass of isotope 2 × abundance of isotope 2) + …

Let one isotope’s abundance be x

Let the other isotope’s abundance be 1 − x

Substitute the known isotope masses and the average atomic mass into the equation

Solve the equation for x

Convert x to a percentage by multiplying by 100

Convert 1 − x to a percentage by multiplying by 100

Check that the abundances add up to 100%

For more than two isotopes, set up one equation using the weighted average and use the given abundance relationships to solve for the unknowns

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