Abstract
The isotopic composition of molybdenum in a shelf reagent standard (MoO 3, 99.99%), 13 molybdenites, and three iron meteorites has been determined with a thermal ionization mass spectrometer. No especially-evident variations of molybdenum isotopes among these samples have been found. The mass fractionation of molybdenum occurring in isotopes during the measurements is discussed and our preferred natural abundances of molybdenum isotopes are: 92Mo, 14.7287 ± 0.0010; 94Mo, 9.2118 ± 0.0006; 95Mo, 15.8935 ± 0.0011; 96Mo, 16.6731 ± 0.0011; 97Mo, 9.5692 ± 0.0007; 98Mo, 24.2289 ± 0.0017; 100Mo, 9.6950 ± 0.0007. Thus, the atomic weight of molybdenum is 95.9415 ± 0.0001 (the value currently accepted by IUPAC [IUPAC Inorganic Chemistry Division, Pure Appl. Chem., 63 (1991) 991] is 95.94 ± 0.01). The uncertainties correspond to the 95% confidence limit calculated from all the terrestrial and meteoritic samples.
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