Answer :

Final answer:

The relative atomic mass of chlorine is 35.5 because it's a weighted average of the atomic masses of its naturally occurring isotopes, chlorine-35 and chlorine-37. It takes into account the percent abundances of each isotope in nature. The resulting atomic mass is closer to that of the more abundant isotope, chlorine-35.

Explanation:

The relative atomic mass of chlorine is 35.5, rather than a whole number, because it is a weighted average of the atomic masses of chlorine's naturally occurring isotopes: chlorine-35 and chlorine-37. The calculation of this average atomic mass takes into consideration the abundance of each isotope in nature. Chlorine-35, with an atomic mass of 34.969 amu, is more abundant (75.77% abundance) than chlorine-37, which has an atomic mass of 36.966 amu and comprises 24.23% percent of naturally occurring chlorine.

For example, applying significant figure rules, we calculate the average atomic mass as follows:

(0.7577 x 34.969) + (0.2423 x 36.966) = 35.46 amu

Due to this weighted average calculation, the relative atomic mass of chlorine is closer to the atomic mass of the more abundant isotope, chlorine-35. This demonstrates why the atomic mass listed for elements on the periodic table may not be a whole number.

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