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How do isotopes effect the mass number and the average atomic mass?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
When it comes to Atomic Mass, each proton and each neutron (they're called nucleons when we talk about them in an atomic nucleus) in the nucleus of an atom add about 1 to the atomic mass. Just as a for instance, most hydrogen has just a proton for a nucleus. But some has a neutron attached to the proton, or, in extremely rare instances, two neutrons. In the case of "regular" hydrogen, its atomic mass is about 1 while hydrogen with a neutron stuck to its proton has an atomic mass of about 2. Atomic mass has to take into account some subtleties as regards atoms. Use the links below to sort it out.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoMass numbers are always whole numbers, but the different ratios change the atomic number from a whole number to a decimal, as it is the average of all mass numbers in their respective ratios. For example, chlorine's main isotopes are 35Cl and 37Cl, in a 3:1 ratio. Thus an average would be (3 x 35 + 37)/4 = 142/4 = 35.5, which is the value often cited as the atomic mass of chlorine. This method can be used for any element and using its most common isotopes.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIsotopes are heavier or lighter than the original atom. An isotope of Hydrogen that is heavier by three neutrons -Tritium has three neutrons, making it much heavier than Hydrogen.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoThe atomic mass is the average of all the isotopes. If there are just two isotopes (lets say the first is 1.00 and the second is 2.00) and they both were found equally in nature (50-50), then the atomic mass would be 1.50 grams.
But usually the isotopes aren't found in nature equally. In the example above, if the isotopes would be found in nature 10-90, then the atomic mass would be 0.95 grams. Also, the isotopes may have masses that are very different from each other. This along with frequency effects the average atomic mass.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIsotopes of an element have differed mass numbers. When calculating the average mass number, for justification, the relative abundance is also considered.
If we take neon as an example, it has two isotopes with the mass numbers 20 and 22 where the relative abundance is 80% and 20% respectively.
The average relative atomic mass is;
20 x (80/100) + 22 x (20/100) = 20.4
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoIsotopes affect the mass of the element because they have a different amount of protons.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe atomic weight of an element
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What is the isotope number used for on the periodic table?
There is not an isotope number on the Periodic Table of Elements. There is an atomic number (# of protons) and the average atomic mass. The average atomic mass is the weighted average of all the naturally occurring isotopes for each element. This number is not a whole number, because it is an average of all the isotopes for a particular element.
Is the atomic number and the atomic weight the same?
No, the atomic number is the number of protons and electrons in a given element. The atomic weight is the weighted average of the isotopes in a natural environment.
Why does chlorine have fractional atomic mass?
Chlorine naturally occurs with mixed isotopes, and the number is an average of the atomic mass of those isotopes, in the proportion they are present. The isotopes have the same atomic number (protons), but their mass number can be different due to the presence of a different number of neutrons. These atoms of an element having a different number of neutrons are called isotopes.
Atomic mass differnet from the atomic mass number why is that?
The atomic mass is an average, allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.
What is the difference between atomic mass number and atomic number?
Atomic mass number is the average atomic mass for that element, which is : All the isotopes' masses known for that element averaged up. Atomic number is the element's "identity", the number of protons the element and all its isotopes have. All the isotopes of a given element will have different number of electrons and neutrons, but the protons of the element never will change.
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.
What is the isotope number used for on the periodic table?
There is not an isotope number on the Periodic Table of Elements. There is an atomic number (# of protons) and the average atomic mass. The average atomic mass is the weighted average of all the naturally occurring isotopes for each element. This number is not a whole number, because it is an average of all the isotopes for a particular element.
Is the atomic number and the atomic weight the same?
No, the atomic number is the number of protons and electrons in a given element. The atomic weight is the weighted average of the isotopes in a natural environment.
What atoms with same atomic number but different atomic masses?
Isotopes of the same element have the same number of protons (atomic number) but differ in number of neutrons (hence atomic masses).
How is average weight of atomic mass computed?
the average atomic mass is computed by summing all isotopic weights of the isotopes of that element and then dividing this by the the total number of isotopes of that element (note that isotopic mass is exactly the same as atomic weight, except for isotopes).
Why does chlorine have fractional atomic mass?
Chlorine naturally occurs with mixed isotopes, and the number is an average of the atomic mass of those isotopes, in the proportion they are present. The isotopes have the same atomic number (protons), but their mass number can be different due to the presence of a different number of neutrons. These atoms of an element having a different number of neutrons are called isotopes.
Where does average atomic mass come from?
The mass of an atom derives mostly from the mass of the protons and neutrons in its nucleus. It is slightly less that their total number since some of the mass is converted into energy that holds the nucleus together. Electrons have a negligible effect on atomic mass.Elements can exist in the form of a number of isotopes: these are atoms which differ in the number of neutrons that they contain. The average atomic mass is the average of the atomic masses of all the isotopes of an element, weighted according to the abundance of the isotope.
Atomic mass differnet from the atomic mass number why is that?
The atomic mass is an average, allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.
What is the difference between atomic mass number and atomic number?
Atomic mass number is the average atomic mass for that element, which is : All the isotopes' masses known for that element averaged up. Atomic number is the element's "identity", the number of protons the element and all its isotopes have. All the isotopes of a given element will have different number of electrons and neutrons, but the protons of the element never will change.
What is the average atomic mass compared to atomic mass?
Atomic mass is the number of protons and neutrons in an atom.
What is the difference between an elements atomic mass and its number?
The atomic number is the number of protons or, equivalently, the number of electrons. The Atomic Mass also includes the neutrons. Furthermore, the atomic mass is an average of the isotopes of the element weighted according to their abundance.
Atoms of same chemical element that have different atomic mass are known as?
Isotopes. They differ in the number of neutrons in the nucleus.
