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If you literally mean "even number", because there aren't always an even number of nucleons (each of which has a mass of about 1 amu), nor is there any special reason there should be.

If you mean "whole number" instead, it's because the nucleons have a mass of about 1 amu each, not precisely 1 amu each, with the neutrons being slightly more massive than the protons. The electrons make a (very small) contribution as well.

Finally, any given element may be a mixture of isotopes, and even if the isotopes individually did happen to have a whole number mass, the mixture wouldn't. Chlorine, for example, is about 3/4 35Cl and 1/4 37Cl, so it comes out to have an average Atomic Mass of roughly 35.5.

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11y ago

What else can I help you with?