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First of all, an atom can not literally have either more than one mass number or more than one atomic number. Different atoms of the same element can have different mass numbers but the same atomic number because the atomic number is the defining characteristic of an element, but many elements have isotopes that have different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei and therefore different mass numbers: Mass numbers are the sum of the numbers of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

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Q: Why can an atom have more then one mass number but only one atomic number?
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How is the atomic mass determined?

Atomic Mass is the number of protons in an atom plus the number of neutrons in the same atom.


What is the number of atomic mass in a 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.


Carbon atom with atomic no of 6 and atomic mass of 12 considered isotopes of one another?

No. A carbon atom has both an atomic number and an atomic mass. All carbon atoms have an atomic number of 6. The most common carbon atom has an atomic mass of 12. See the Related Questions for more information about carbon, isotopes and atomic number and atomic mass.Go to Answers.com and punch in "carbon isotopes" and it will show you various isotopes and the atomic mass (u) associated with each (shown as isotopic mass).


What is the mass of the number minus atomic number?

The mass number minus the atomic number is the number of neutrons in an atom. The atomic number is both protons and electrons. Boron, atomic number 5, has two naturally occuring isotopes with mass numbers of 10 and 11, 10B, 11B. The number of neutrons in each is 5 and 6 respectively. The percentage occurence is roughly 20%, 80% respectively. This gives rise to the fractional atomic mass.


Difference between atomic weight and mass number?

Atomic mass (ma) is the mass of an atom. A single atom has a set number of protons and neutrons, so the mass is unequivocal (won't change) and is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the atom. ... Atomic weight is a weighted average of the mass of all the atoms of an element, based on the abundance of isotopes.


How can you calculate the number of proton in an atom?

number of neutrons = Atomic Mass - atomic numberRead more: How_do_you_calculate_the_number_of_protons_neutrons_and_electrons_in_a_neutral_atom


Is the atomic mass equal to the number of atoms in the elements?

The mass number of an isotope of an element is equal to its atomic mass number. However, the atomic weight of an element is a weighted average of the isotopes that occur in the element in nature. Because almost all elements have more than one naturally occurring isotope (if they have any), the atomic weights of most elements are not integers, as mass numbers always are.


What is the atom of alkali metal?

The atom with mass number= 23 and atomic number= 11 is of an alkali metal. Contact +233543374062 for more info


An atom of carbon whose mass number is 14 differs from an atom of carbon whose mass number is 12 in that it has?

neutrons, subtract the atomic number from the mass number to find the number of neutrons, atomic number is the number is the amount of protons, atomic mass is the average mass of one mole of atoms. each particle wieghing one amu (atomic mass unit)


Why can atoms have more than one mass number but only one atomic number?

Each atom exists in nature with varying numbers of neutrons (isotopes), but each atom has a definite number of protons (atomic number).


Are the number in the periodic table are arranged by atomic mass?

No all he elements on the Periodic Table are arranged by the atomic number because some element are lighter than other and have more or less protons in the nucleus of the atom( The number of protons in an atom is the atomic number).


Do carbon and oxygen have the same atomic mass?

They don't contain the same number of particles because some particles are more dense than others making one atom and another atom the same mass but not have the same number of particles.