Why most atomic masses on the periodic table are decimal numbers?

Why most atomic masses on the periodic table are decimal numbers?

Though individual atoms always have an integer number of atomic mass units, the atomic mass on the periodic table is stated as a decimal number because it is an average of the various isotopes of an element.

Why are the atomic masses in the periodic table not exact numbers?

The atomic masses of most elements are not whole numbers, because they are a weighted average of the mass numbers of the different isotopes of that element, with respect to their abundances in nature.

How is the atomic mass determined on the periodic table?

Together, the number of protons and the number of neutrons determine an element’s mass number: mass number = protons + neutrons. A property closely related to an atom’s mass number is its atomic mass. The atomic mass of a single atom is simply its total mass and is typically expressed in atomic mass units or amu.

Which statement correctly describes the average atomic mass of an element?

Answer: The atomic mass is a weighted average of all of the isotopes of that element, in which the mass of each isotope is multiplied by the abundance of that particular isotope.

Why are the atomic masses listed in the periodic table not whole numbers quizlet?

Why are atomic masses of elements not generally whole numbers? The atomic masses listed on the periodic table are a weighted AVERAGE of an element’s isotopes. An element’s atomic number is the number of protons in its nucleus. Number of protons specifies atom type.

Why are masses reported as decimals on the periodic table even though we say that protons and neutrons have a mass of 1 amu?

Given that protons and neutrons have an atomic mass of 1 amu, why are masses reported as decimals on the periodic table? Because you have to take the average amount of each used which is different. For example hydrogen has different isotopes. They have to calculate using the averaged used.

Why are the atomic masses of the elements not strict in increasing order?

The physical and chemical properties of the elements are periodic functions of their atomic numbers. Why are elements atomic masses not in strict increasing order in the periodic table even though the properties of the elements are the same? Because they are arranged in increasing atomic number.

What does the atomic mass of an element depend on?

This number of protons is called the atomic number. The mass of the atom, its atomic mass, depends upon both the number of protons and upon the number of neutrons present in the nucleus (remember that the mass of an electron is so small that it is simply ignored for the purpose of establishing the atomic mass).

Which statement best explains why the overall charge on an atom is zero?

The positive charge of the protons in the nucleus equals the negative charge in the electron cloud. Explanation: For every negative charge of an electron, there is an equal positively charged proton in the nucleus of the atom. This is why the overall charge on an atom is zero.

Which statement correctly compares the masses of protons neutrons and electrons?

Protons and neutrons have similar mass. Electrons are smaller than a proton or a neutron.

Why are molar masses not whole numbers?

Atomic mass is never an integer number for several reasons: The atomic mass reported on a periodic table is the weighted average of all the naturally occuring isotopes. The mass of an atom isn’t what you’d get by adding up the masses of its individual protons, neutrons and electrons.