The Modern View of Atomic Structure; Atomic Weights (Sections)(a) The mass spectrometer in...

The Modern View of Atomic Structure; Atomic Weights (Sections)

(a) The mass spectrometer in Figure has a magnet as one of its components. What is the purpose of the magnet?

Figure A mass spectrometer. Cl atoms are introduced at Aand are ionized to form Cl+ ions, which are then directed through a magnetic field. The paths of the ions of the two Cl isotopes diverge as they pass through the field.

(b) The atomic weight of Cl is 35.5 amu. However, the mass spectrum of Cl (Figure) does not show a peak at this mass. Explain.

Figure Mass spectrum of atomic chlorine. The fractional abundances of the isotopes 35Cl and 37Cl are indicated by the relative signal intensities of the beams reaching the detector of the mass spectrometer.

(c) A mass spectrum of phosphorus (P) atoms shows only a single peak at a mass of 31. What can you conclude from this observation?