Question

1-48 with the help of figure 1-10, indicate whether the first listed element in each of the given pairs of elements is more abundant or less abundant in earths crust, in terms of atom percent, than the second listed element.

a. oxygen and hydrogen

b. iron and aluminum

c. calcium and magnesium

d. copper and sodium

Explanation:

To solve this, we refer to the abundance of elements in Earth’s crust (atom percent) from standard data (or Figure 1 - 10, which typically shows: O > H, Al > Fe, Mg > Ca, Na > Cu).

Part (a)

Oxygen (O) is more abundant than Hydrogen (H) in Earth’s crust (atom percent).

Part (b)

Aluminum (Al) is more abundant than Iron (Fe), so Iron is less abundant than Aluminum.

Part (c)

Magnesium (Mg) is more abundant than Calcium (Ca), so Calcium is less abundant than Magnesium.

Part (d)

Sodium (Na) is more abundant than Copper (Cu), so Copper is less abundant than Sodium.

Answer:

s:
a. More abundant (Oxygen vs Hydrogen)
b. Less abundant (Iron vs Aluminum)
c. Less abundant (Calcium vs Magnesium)
d. Less abundant (Copper vs Sodium)