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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.
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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!)
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.
What is the mass number of cadmium?
Cadmium is a metal element. Mass number of it is 112.
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.
Is the atomic mass of an element is always a whole number of atomic mass untis?
No.
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.
The mass number of an element is equal to what of an element?
The mass number of an element is equal to the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of that element.
What element has an atomic mass of 32.06?
Sulfur- Element Number 16 on the Periodic Table of Elements
What is the mass of an element?
The mass of an element is determined by the total number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. This mass is typically measured in atomic mass units (amu) and is an average of all the naturally occurring isotopes of that element.
What would cause the average atomic mass to be close to a whole number?
The average atomic mass of an element is close to a whole number when the element has nearly equal amounts of its isotopes, with atomic masses that are close to whole numbers themselves. This occurs in elements with only one stable isotope or with stable isotopes that have similar abundances.
Why is the atomic mass of an element not a whole number while the atomic number is?
The atomic mass of an element is not a whole number because it includes the average mass of all isotopes of that element and their relative abundance. Isotopes have different masses due to varying numbers of neutrons, causing the atomic mass to be a weighted average. In contrast, the atomic number is a whole number representing the number of protons in an atom, which defines the 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
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.
How do you work out the mass number from the periodic table?
The mass number of an element is the total number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. To find the mass number on the periodic table, locate the element and round the atomic mass to the nearest whole number, which is the total number of protons and neutrons.
What is the sum of protons and neutrons known as an element?
The sum of protons and neutrons in an atom is known as the atomic mass or mass number of an element. It is typically shown as the whole number next to the element's symbol in the periodic table.
