A deep-space probe has returned to Earth with a dust sample gathered from the surface of a carbonaceous asteroid. Mass spectrometry analysis of the silicon content in this extraterrestrial sample shows a different isotopic distribution than that typically found on Earth.
The stable isotopes of silicon and their percentage abundances in this sample are shown in the table below:
| Isotope | 28Si^{28}\text{Si}28Si | 29Si^{29}\text{Si}29Si | 30Si^{30}\text{Si}30Si |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage abundance (%) | 88.5 | 6.3 | 5.2 |
Calculate the relative atomic mass of the silicon in this asteroid sample. Give your answer to one decimal place.
41 exam-style questions on Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry Atomic structure. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.