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How are isotopes related to atomic masses not being whole numbers?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Atomic masses are the weighted average of all the isotopes of an element. The average is based on the relative abundance of each isotope. Let say we have an element with two isotopes, the first isotope has a mass of 6 and the second has a mass of 8. If we took a straight average of the atomic masses then the element would have a mass of 7. But a weighted average based on the abundance of each isotope would be different (unless both isotopes are found to be in equal amounts ie. both 50% abundance)
If the isotope with a mass of 6 had a relative abundance of 75% (meaning that 3/4 of all atoms of that element had a mass of 6) then the other isotope would have a relative abundance of 25% (relative abundance must add up to 100%). The Atomic Mass of the elements would be calculated by multiplying each isotopes mass my the relative abundance and then adding the two results together.
75% (6) = 4.5
25% (8) = 2.0
4.5 + 2.0 = 6.5 The atomic mass for this element would have an atomic mass of 6.5 amu (atomic mass units)
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoWell, isotopes are merely atoms with differing numbers of neutrons, so even though atomic masses are not whole numbers (except for carbon-12), the number of neutrons in the nucleus can vary, thus creating isotopes. Not sure what one thing has to do with the other.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoNo other isotopes have whole number masses due to the different mass of neutrons.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoisotopes are elements of the atomic number but have different mass numbers.
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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).
The various atomic weights of the same element are called?
Atoms of the same element with different atomic masses are known as isotopes. Isotopes differ only by the number of neutrons present in the nucleus of the isotopes. The number of protons is the same for all isotopes of an element (because if there were different numbers of protons, then the atoms would not be of the same element).
What do you called in an element having the same atomic number but different atomic masses?
Isotopes. eg U235 and U238. Both Uranium, atomic number 92, bur different isotopes.
What is the weighted average of the atomic masses of an element's naturally occurring isotopes is called the?
The atomic weight that is listed on the periodic table for each element is the weighted average of the atomic masses of an element's naturally occurring isotopes. So you are describing atomic weight as it is used on the periodic table.
Which best describes the definition for the atomic mass of the element?
it is the weighted average of the masses of an element's isotopes.
Which statement best explains why most atomic masses on the periodric table are decimal numbers?
Atomic masses are a weighted average of the naturally occurring isotopes.
What cause different isotopes to have different atomic masses?
Different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei.
Which term describes atoms with different atomic masses due to varying numbers of neutrons?
Isotopes (Pretty Sure)
What does it mean if two atoms are isotopes?
If two atoms are isotopes, it means they have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Thus, they have the same atomic numbers, but different atomic masses.
Does an isotope of an element have a different atomic mass?
Yes; isotopes of the same element have the same atomic number but differ in their atomic masses.
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 do the decimal places on the atomic masses of elements realate to isotopes?
The atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of masses of the isotopes of the element, weighted in proportion to their abundance.
Different isotopes have different what?
The isotopes of an element must have a different amount of neutrons. I'm pretty sure you know what these are, but just in case: A neutron is a sub-atomic part of an atom, together with protons and electrons.
Isotopes of the same element have different .?
atomic masses
What are atoms of the same element thay have different atomic masses?
when you have two different forms of an atom with different masses, it's called an isotope of the atom.
Atoms having the same atomic number but different atomic masses?
Isotopes
What are atoms that have the same number but different weights?
I think you are referring to Isotopes. They have the same atomic number but different atomic masses. This is due to differences in the numbers of neutrons.
