What does the atomic mass and number depend on?

Answer 1

As electrons have almost negligeable mass when compared to a proton, the mass of an atom mostly depends on the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. The mass of an electron is almost 1800 times smaller than the mass of a proton or neutron so in most calculations it can be safely assumed to be zero. In other words the mass of an atom depends on its atomic number.

Answer 2

The Atomic Mass of an atom is the sum of the mass of the protons and neutrons, since the electrons have such a tiny, tiny comparative mass that they do not impact the atomic mass. The protons and neutrons both have an atomic mass of 1 amu(atomic mass unit). Also, an atom's identity is defined by the number of protons it has, so that number never changes. Therefore the only variable left is the number of neutrons. Atoms with the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons are called isotopes and they each have a slightly different atomic mass depending on how many neutrons there are. So, all in all the average atomic mass depends on the weights of all the isotopes and how frequent each isotope occurs.

Answer 3

The ultimate nature of mass is still under investigation by physicists, but apparently it depends upon a particle called the Higgs boson. Try looking that up in Google.

Answer 4

The atomic number depends on the number of protons. The atomic mass depends on the number of protons and neutrons.

Answer 5

On its density and volume. If you mean the mass of an individual atom, that depends mainly on the number of protons and neutrons.

Answer 6

the number of protons and neutrons

Answer 7

Protons and neutrons