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The Atomic Mass is the mass of an atom of that element in AMUs. (Atomic Mass Units)
The atomic number, however, is equivalent to the number of protons in an atom of that element.

The mass number of an atom is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. This is therefore always a whole number.

The relative atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of the masses of the isotopes relative to 1/12 of the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

It is a weighted average as it takes into account the relative abundances of the different isotopes (atoms of the same element but with different numbers of neutrons) of an element. This number is found in the Periodic Table.

For example chlorine has two isotopes, 35Cl and 37Cl, in the approximate ratio of 3 atoms of 35Cl to 1 atom of 37Cl.

The number of protons and neutrons in a 35Cl atom must add up to 35, the mass number. The relative atomic mass of chlorine takes into account both isotopes and is therefore 35.5.

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Related questions

How do you get the mass number by adding neutrons and the atomic number?

mass number = number of protons + number of neutrons The atomic number is equivalent to number of protons.


What is the number of atomic mass?

the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number)


What is a mass number atomic mass number?

The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom. This number is fixed and determines what element that atom is. The Atomic Mass is the mass of an atom and is roughly equivalent to the number of protons plus the average number of neutrons that atoms of that particular element.


What is an atomic number and a mass number?

The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom. This number is fixed and determines what element that atom is. The atomic mass is the mass of an atom and is roughly equivalent to the number of protons plus the average number of neutrons that atoms of that particular element.


What is the atomic mass of and atom?

the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.


Why is the atomic mass of an element not a whole number while the atomic number is?

The atomic number refers to the number of protons in the atom. Since the proton cannot be an in-between number, the atomic number will have to be a whole number. On the other hand, the atomic mass does not have to be a whole number because it is the mass of an atom and is roughly equivalent to the number of protons plus the average number of neutrons in that particular element.


What does atomic mass equal?

the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.


What does the atomic mass reflects?

the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.


What is atomic mass of a element?

the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.


What is the atomic mass comprised of?

the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.


What is indicated by the atomic mass?

the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.


What is the definition of 'Atomic Mass'?

the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.