CANDY CANDY CANDY!

PURPOSE/ INTRODUCTION: 

      Use a "Candium" model to explain the concept of atomic mass also, analyze the isotopes of Candium and calculate its atomic mass. Atomic Mass is the average mass of atoms of an element, calculated using the relative abundance of isotopes in a naturally-occuring element. This lab should give us a relative idea of what atomic mass (atomic weight) is and how to find it. 

                                                      

MATERIALS:

• Sample of candy (You could use sixlets, reese's candy, and skittles) 
• Balance
• A Smile!

PROCEDURE: 

1. Obtain sample of Candium
2. Separate it into its 3 isotopes. (Definition under the discussion/conclusion) 
3. Determine the total mass of each isotope. 
4. Count the numbers of each isotope. 
5. Record the data and calculations in a data table.
6. Create a data table that has each of the following:

• Average mass of each isotope.
• Percent abundance of each isotope. 
• Relative abundance of each isotope. 
• Relative mass of each isotope. 
• Average mass of each isotope. 

OUR DATA TABLE:


                                         Gobstopper       Sixlets       M&M's       Skittles
Average Mass:                           1.815 g          .888g        .936g       1.01g
% Abundance:                        11.1%           27.7%       24.1%       37.1%
Relative Abundance:                 6                 15            13             20
Relative Mass:                      2.044g            1g           1.05g       1.14g
Average Mass of all:               .567g            .567g       .567g        .567g


DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: 
During this lab, we calculated the atomic mass of each candy and used the triple-beam-balance to do so. 


Isotope: any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties


Now, to explain the difference between percent abundance and relative abundance:
Percent Abundance: the percentage of each type of isotope that exists in a given sample of an element. 
Relative Abundance: the number of candy in each isotope. 


Comparing the total values of average mass between relative mass:
Average Mass: the weight of each individual piece of candy. (Weigh all of them and divide by how many there are) 
Relative Mass: the comparison to the smallest mass there is, for example, divide the average mass of the  Gobstopper by the average mass of the Sixlets because they have the smallest mass. 
So, the relative mass of each candy is different because it compares each candy to a Sixlet. And each group will have different relative masses because they have different variables: the type of candy, the number of candy in each group, and even how they read the scale. 


In order to get exact results on this activity, be sure to round correctly and read your scale right. Also, if you measure your candy in a cup or a bag be sure to subtract the weight of the container from what the triple-beam-balance says, or else all your calculations will be off from the beginning. This activity is a model for calculating atomic masses of real elements because it gives everyone the opportunity to practice and calculate data. Each real element has its own identity and using certain information, a person can calculate the atomic mass.