Distinguish between mass number and atomic mass.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for a comparison between mass number and atomic mass, which are both important concepts in chemistry related to the composition of atoms. The mass number refers to the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus, while atomic mass is a weighted average mass of an element's isotopes based on their natural abundance. This question seeks to clarify the differences between these two definitions.
Answer
Mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom and is a whole number. Atomic mass is the weighted average mass of all naturally occurring isotopes of an element and is expressed as a decimal.
The final answer is that mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom and is a whole number, while atomic mass is the weighted average mass of all naturally occurring isotopes of an element, expressed as a decimal.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is that mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom and is a whole number, while atomic mass is the weighted average mass of all naturally occurring isotopes of an element, expressed as a decimal.
More Information
The mass number pertains specifically to a single isotope of an element, reflecting its nucleon count, while atomic mass takes into account the distribution and masses of all isotopes.
Tips
Students often confuse these terms; remember, mass number is always a whole number and specific to an isotope, while atomic mass is a decimal and represents an average.
Sources
- The web page with info on - ThoughtCo - thoughtco.com
- What is the difference between atomic mass and mass number? - socratic.org
- What is the difference between atomic mass and mass number ? - toppr.com
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