A mass spectrometer has a detection limit of 1.0 % relative abundance for any single peak
CHEMISTRY · Single correct · A Level · Chemistry · Atomic structure · Atomic structure
Problem
A mass spectrometer has a detection limit of 1.0 % relative abundance for any single peak. Natural chlorine contains 75.78 % 35Cl (atomic mass 34.97u) and 24.22 % 37Cl (atomic mass 36.97u). A purified chlorine sample shows only a single peak at m/z = 35; no peak is observed at m/z = 37. Assuming the undetected 37Cl could be present at up to the detection limit, which of the following is closest to the largest possible average atomic mass (in u) of chlorine atoms in the purified sample?
(a) 35.45 u
(b) 34.97 u
(c) 34.99 u
(d) 35.02 u