Atomic mass
Atomic Mass
Atomic mass (pronunciation: /əˈtɒmɪk mæs/) is a fundamental concept in Chemistry and Physics that refers to the mass of an atom, most commonly expressed in atomic mass units (amu).
Etymology
The term "atomic mass" originates from the early 19th century, with the word "atomic" derived from the Greek word "atomos" meaning indivisible, and "mass" from the Old French "masse" meaning lump or pile.
Definition
Atomic mass is the weighted average mass of the atoms in a naturally occurring element. It takes into account the relative abundance of the element's isotopes. The atomic mass of an element can be found on the Periodic Table of elements, usually listed below the chemical symbol.
Calculation
The atomic mass of an element is calculated by multiplying the mass of each isotope by its natural abundance (expressed as a decimal), and then adding those values. This calculation gives a weighted average mass of the atoms in a sample of the element.
Related Terms
- Atomic Mass Unit (amu): A unit of mass used to express atomic and molecular weights.
- Isotope: Variants of a particular chemical element which differ in neutron number.
- Relative Atomic Mass: The measure of the mass of one atom of an element.
- Molar Mass: The mass of a given substance divided by the amount of that substance, measured in g/mol.
- Atomic Number: The number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Atomic mass
- Wikipedia's article - Atomic mass
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