Accelerated Chemistry Laboratory Experiment

Determining the Isotopes of Pennium

Introduction
Unless youre a coin collector, you probably think all United States pennies are the same.
To the casual observer, all the pennies in circulation seem to be identical in size, thickness and
composition. Depending on the year they were minted, the pennies in circulation have different
masses, just as isotopes of an element have different masses.
Remember, in chemistry, isotopes are atoms of the same element and therefore have the
same number of protons. Isotopes differ in the number of neutrons and therefore have different
masses. Chemical properties of isotopes are also similar, although they may differ in some
physical properties.
In this investigation, the pennies will represent a fictitious element named pennium (Pe).
The different masses will represent the different isotopes of pennium. You will determine the
mass and relative abundance of each of the isotopes of pennium. You will then use this
information to determine the atomic mass of pennium. The atomic mass of an element is the
weighted average (relative abundance) of the masses of all the known isotopes of that element.
Pre-Lab Questions
1) What do the pennies represent?
2) What do the different masses of the pennies represent?
3) What information must you have in order to calculate the average atomic mass of
pennium?
Purpose
To determine the masses and relative abundance of the isotopes of pennium
To determine the atomic mass of pennium
Materials
Electric balance
20 pennies
Procedure
1) Count out 20 pennies
2) Record the total mass of all 20 pennies
3) Identify each penny (by year and/or by other means)
4) Record year minted and mass of each penny to the nearest 0.001 gram
5) Return pennies and clean up lab station
6) Wash your hands

Data
Combined mass of 20 pennies =___________
Penny
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Year

Mass (to nearest 0.001 g)

Observations

Calculations
1) How many isotopes of pennium are there? Explain how you know this.
2) Calculate the average atomic mass of each isotope using the following formula:

3) Calculate the abundance of each isotope of pennium using the following formula:

4) Use the following equation to determine the average atomic mass of pennium:

Conclusion
1) Was the mass of 20 pennies equal to 20 times the mass of one penny? Explain.
2) How can you explain the fact there are different isotopes of pennium?
3) Why are atomic masses for most elements not whole numbers?

Isotopes of Pennium Activity Rubric

Names ____________________________________________________
Criteria
Possible
Points
Pre-lab Questions (1 point each)
1) What do the pennies represent?
2) What do the different masses of the pennies represent?
3) What information must you have in order to calculate the average
atomic mass of pennium?
Data Table
Calculations
1) How many isotopes of pennium are there? Explain how you know
this. (2 pts)
2) Calculate the average atomic mass of each isotope. (2 pts)
3) Calculate the abundance of each isotope of pennium.(2 pts)
4) Determine the average atomic mass of pennium. (2 pts)
Conclusion
1) Was the mass of 20 pennies equal to 20 times the mass of one
penny? Explain. (2 pts)
2) How can you explain the fact there are different isotopes of
pennium? (2 pts)
3) Why are atomic masses for most elements not whole numbers? (2
pts)
Total

Points
Earned

3
4
8

21

Isotopes of Pennium Activity Rubric

Names ____________________________________________________
Criteria
Possible
Points
Pre-lab Questions (1 point each)
4) What do the pennies represent?
5) What do the different masses of the pennies represent?
6) What information must you have in order to calculate the average
atomic mass of pennium?
Data Table
Calculations
5) How many isotopes of pennium are there? Explain how you know
this. (2 pts)
6) Calculate the average atomic mass of each isotope. (2 pts)
7) Calculate the abundance of each isotope of pennium.(2 pts)
8) Determine the average atomic mass of pennium. (2 pts)
Conclusion
4) Was the mass of 20 pennies equal to 20 times the mass of one
penny? Explain. (2 pts)
5) How can you explain the fact there are different isotopes of
pennium? (2 pts)
6) Why are atomic masses for most elements not whole numbers? (2
pts)
Total

3
4

21

Points
Earned