answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Approximately, yes. But the mass number is an average of the masses of the isotopes of the element, weighted together according to their abundance. This averaging of different whole numbers results in the mass number not being a whole number.

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Does the mass number of an element have to be a whole number?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Math & Arithmetic

Why is the atomic mass of an element not usually given as a whole number even though each individual atom of the element has a whole number of protons and neutrons?

It's because of electrons, they have a relative mass of 1/1836


Why is an element's atomic mess not listed as a whole number on the periodic?

Because it is an average of the masses of the isotopes of the element, each of which has a different atomic mass (not mess!)


What is the mass number of cadmium?

Cadmium is a metal element. Mass number of it is 112.


Why is an elements atomic mass not listed as a whole number on the table?

There are two main reasons. The first is that the masses of protons and neutrons are not 1 unit but slightly greater. The mass of an atom is the mass of a whole number of protons, a whole number of neutrons as well as the same number of electrons as protons. Overall, therefore, the mass should be greater than the number of protons and neutrons (electrons have very little mass). But some of the mass is converted to energy which is used to hold the positively charged nucleus together. As a result the mass of carbon12 is an exact whole number and that is the only element for which that is true.The second, and possibly more relevant reason is that most atoms are found in the form of isotopes which have different numbers of neutrons and so different masses. The atomic mass listed for an element is an average of the masses of all these isotopes, weighted together according to their abundance of earth.


Can mass only be a whole number?

No, it cannot. A whole number is a quantity without units - a pure number. A mass of 1 pound is a whole number of pounds but it is 0.45359 kilograms: not a whole number, or 453.59 grams, again not a whole number.

Related questions

Is the atomic mass of an element is always a whole number of atomic mass untis?

No.


What is the mass of an element?

The mass number of an element is the atomic mass rounded to the nearest whole number. For Example, if the atomic mass is 54.94 (Manganese [Mn]), then the mass number will be 55. You can use the mass number to calculate the amount of neutrons in an isotope.


What is an element's atomic mass not listed as a whole number on the periodic table?

Few elements have isotopes. their atomic mass is not a whole number.


What would cause the average atomic mass to be close to a whole number?

The average atomic mass of an element would be closer to a whole number if there were few to no electrons. This means having little to no electrons in the element's isotopes.


What element has an atomic mass of 32.06?

Sulfur- Element Number 16 on the Periodic Table of Elements


The mass number of an element is equal to what of an element?

The sum of the number of protons and the number of nuetrons.


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.


Why is the atomic mass of an element not usually given as a whole number even though each individual atom of the element has a whole number of protons and neutrons?

It's because of electrons, they have a relative mass of 1/1836


What is the weighted average mass of all the know isotopes for an element?

It is its Atomic Mass and why atomic mass is frequently not a whole number.


Can explain in terms of isotopes why the relative atomic mass of atomic number 17 is not a whole number?

Mass number is the average of all the naturally occurring isotopes of that element. When calculated, this average is not a whole number.


Why is the atomic mass of an element usually not given as a whole number even though each individual atom of the element has a whole number of protons and neutrons?

It's the electrons that throw it off.


Is Isotope mass a whole number?

yes,because in isotopes neutrons differ from normal element.