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The mass number is a whole number; it's the number of nucleons (protons and neutrons) in the atom. The mass generally is not (except for carbon-12, which has a mass of exactly 12 by definition). The reason that the mass is not exactly equal to the mass number (again, with the exception of 12C) is due to binding energy. The binding energy is different for every nucleus, and this results in the mass being slightly different from what we would expect from just counting the nucleons.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe atomic number of an element is a whole number. It's the mass number that's not whole. This is due mainly to the fact that each element has several isotopes with different masses. The mass number for a given element is the average of those isotopes.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoBecause some people write in scientific notation or exponential notation instead of writing say, 23 zeros.
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Why don't the elements on the periodic table have a whole number as their atomic weight?
Elements exist as isotopes in nature. So their atomic weight is not a whole number.
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.
Why the atomic mass numbers listed for elements on the Periodic Table are not whole numbers.?
Why are atomic masses of elements not generally whole numbers? The atomic masses listed on the periodic table are a weighted AVERAGE of an element'sisotopes. ... An element's atomic number is the number of protons in its nucleus. Number of protons specifies atom type.
Does tungsten have a high or low atomic number?
Tungsten (W) has an atomic number of 74. This number is high compared to the whole Periodic Table. There are only 18 more natural elements with a higher number.
Are the elements listed in order of atomic number or atomic mass?
Atomic number.
Why don't the elements on the periodic table have a whole number as their atomic weight?
Elements exist as isotopes in nature. So their atomic weight is not a whole number.
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.
Why the atomic mass numbers listed for elements on the Periodic Table are not whole numbers.?
Why are atomic masses of elements not generally whole numbers? The atomic masses listed on the periodic table are a weighted AVERAGE of an element'sisotopes. ... An element's atomic number is the number of protons in its nucleus. Number of protons specifies atom type.
What is average atomic number?
There is no average atomic number. The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nuclei of its atoms. It is a whole and finite number. The elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number on the periodic table.
Why is the atomic mass number not a whole number?
We can find Atomic Mass and mass number in chemical elements. Atomic mass is about weight of the atom. Mass number is about total of neutrons and protons.
How do you calculate average atomic number of an element?
There is no average atomic number. The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nuclei of its atoms. It is a whole and finite number. The elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number on the periodic table.
Does tungsten have a high or low atomic number?
Tungsten (W) has an atomic number of 74. This number is high compared to the whole Periodic Table. There are only 18 more natural elements with a higher number.
Why the mass numbers on the periodic table of elements are rarely whole numbers?
Elements also possess isotopes. So their average atomic mass is rarely whole number.
Does chloroform have a atomic number?
No it does not have. Atomic number i for elements.
What elements have atomic number?
All chemical elements have atomic numbers.
Why do you not see whole number when you look up an elements atomic mass on a periodic table?
Because to find out the atomic mass of an element you have to subtract the number of protons with the number of neutrons and when you do so you get a decimal number.
Are the elements listed in order of atomic number or atomic mass?
Atomic number.
