AP Chemistry Flashcards: Mass Spectra of Elements
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What two key pieces of information about an element's isotopes can be determined from its mass spectrum?
A mass spectrum determines the mass of each isotope and its relative natural abundance.
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What two key pieces of information about an element's isotopes can be determined from its mass spectrum?
A mass spectrum determines the mass of each isotope and its relative natural abundance.
In a mass spectrum, what does the number of peaks correspond to?
The number of peaks in an element's mass spectrum corresponds to the number of different isotopes present in the sample.
What is the quantitative relationship between a mass spectrum's data and an element's isotopes?
The spectrum quantitatively relates the mass of each isotope to its relative abundance, allowing for the calculation of the element's average atomic mass.
How can the average atomic mass of an element be estimated from its mass spectrum?
The average atomic mass is estimated by calculating the weighted average of the isotopic masses, using the mass and relative abundance of each isotope shown in the spectrum.
What are an element's isotopes?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different masses due to a different number of neutrons.
What is a weighted average in the context of isotopic masses?
A weighted average is an average calculated by considering the relative abundance of each isotope, giving more weight to the more common isotopes.
What is a mass spectrum of an element?
A mass spectrum is a chart that shows the identity of an element's isotopes and their relative natural abundance.
What two values are needed from a mass spectrum for each isotope to calculate the average atomic mass?
To calculate the average atomic mass, you need the specific mass and the relative abundance of each isotope.
If a peak in a mass spectrum is much taller than another, what does this imply?
A taller peak indicates that the isotope corresponding to that mass has a much higher relative natural abundance than the isotope with the shorter peak.
How does a mass spectrum distinguish between different isotopes of the same element?
It separates the isotopes based on their different masses, resulting in distinct peaks on the spectrum for each unique isotopic mass.