Lab 4: Atomic Mass of Candium

Purpose: The purpose of this lab is to find the average atomic mass of the element candium using an arbitrary sample of the three candium isotopes: regular M&Ms, peanut M&Ms, and pretzel M&Ms.

Average Atomic Mass: We found the average atomic mass of candium to be 1.76456 amu.

Lab Questions:

1. Ask a group nearby what their average atomic mass was. Why would your average atomic mass be different than theirs?

The group next to us had an average atomic mass of 1.7 amu. Our average atomic masses were different because we had different samples; it was as if we had different "planets," and thus had different "abundances" of the element in them. For example, they could've had more regular M&Ms, which have a smaller mass. They could also have had more small peanut or pretzel M&Ms, as each does not have a constant mass.

2. If larger samples of candium were used, for example if I gave you a whole backpack filled with candium, would the differences between your average atomic mass and others' average atomic masses be bigger or smaller? Defend your answer.

The differences between our average atomic mass and others' would most likely get smaller with a larger sample, as larger sample sizes usually means less variation in the data.

3. If you took any piece of candium from your sample and placed it on the balance, would it have the exact average atomic mass that you calculated? Why or why not?

There is a very tiny chance that I would have the exact average atomic mass I had calculated. A data point is almost never the actual average; more likely, it would be somewhere very close to my average. The average is, after all, the total atomic masses-- outliers and all-- summed up and then divided by the total number.

4. You have been chosen to design the square that will be placed on the periodic table for candium. Draw a rough sketch of what your square would look like. Include an atomic symbol for candium as well as the average atomic mass for candium.