Copper is made up of two isotopes, Cu-63 (62.9296 amu) and Cu-65 (64.

9278
amu). Given copper's atomic weight of 63.546, what is the percent abundance of
each isotope?

Naturally occurring strontium consists of four isotopes, Sr-84, Sr-86, Sr-87 and Sr-
88, whose atomic masses are 83.9134, 85.9094, 86.9089 and 87.9056 amu
respectively. The most abundant isotope is Sr-88 which accounts for 82.58% of
naturally occurring strontium and the least abundant isotope is Sr-84 which
accounts for 0.56% of naturally occurring strontium. Given that the observed
atomic mass of strontium is 87.62 amu, calculate the percentages of Sr-86 and Sr-
87 in nature.

Solution:
1) % Sr-84 + % Sr-86 + % Sr-87 + %Sr-88 =100 %
2 Assume percent abundance of Sr-86 to the variable 'x'
3) 1 minus (0.0056 + 0.8258 + x)
the term (0.0056 + 0.8258 + x) is the total of the other three isotopic abundances.
The '1' represents 100% but expressed as a decimal value.
I will use (0.1686 minus x) just below.
3) Set up (and solve) the following equation:
(83.9134) (0.0056) + (85.9094) (x) + (86.9089) (0.1686 - x) + (87.9056) (0.8258) =
87.62
Algebra ensues.
x = 0.09525

Determine the percent abundance for Fe-57 and Fe-58, given the following data:
Isotope Atomic Weight Percent Abundance
Fe-54 53.9396 5.845
Fe-56 55.9349 91.754
Fe-57 56.9354 ?
Fe-58 57.9333 ?