All of the isotopes in an element's atomic masses divided by the amount of isotopes there are is the weighted-average mass of the mixture of an elements isotopes.
Elements also possess isotopes. So their average atomic mass is rarely whole number.
the Atomic Mass
Mass number is a property of isotopes, not elements themselves. Naturally occurring silver is a mixture of isotopes with mass numbers 107 and 109, with an average atomic mass of 107.9.
do you mean the why is the average atomic mass not a whole number? because if that is your question, then the answer is that each element has multipal isotopes and the mass you see on the periodic table is the average of all the isotopes together. So there has to be a decimal on the periodic table of elements
the atomic mass
the average mass numbers of the isotopes of an element
No elements have the same average mass, but some isotopes are the same mass as other elements, For example Carbon-13 (an isotope of carbon) has the same mass as nitrogen-13 (which is also an isotope of nitrogen).
Because of the difference in mass number. Isotopes must have different numbers of neutrons.
The atomic number of the isotopes of an element is identical; the mass number is different.
The atomic mass is an average because most elements consist of a mixture of isotopes.
Mass numbers of isotopes are different.