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Because atoms are too small and too many to actually count. it's like counting all the jelly beans in a huge candy store. If we were to find the number of jelly beans in a candy store, first, we would grab some jelly beans and then we would weigh them. And now that we have the weight, we count the jelly beans that we grabbed and weighed, lets say they are 100 of them in 2 pounds. Now, in order to find the approximate number of jelly beans in the store, we would have to weigh our whole stock of jellybeans, then, simply divide it by 2, and then multiply it by 100. Now, you have the total number of jelly beans in the store without actually counting all of them.

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11y ago
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6mo ago

The mass of an atom is so small that it cannot be measured directly on a typical laboratory balance. Instead, scientists use techniques like mass spectrometry to determine the mass of atoms indirectly by analyzing their behavior in electric and magnetic fields.

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16y ago

Too small (to put on a scale). You can weigh 6.02 x 10 ^ 23 atoms, and call it a mole.

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Q: Why can you not weigh an atom?
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Related questions

What weigh less than 1?

a atom


What are two particles account for almost all of the mass of an atom?

Protons & Neutrons. They are found in the nucleus of the atom and weigh roughly 1800 times what electrons weigh - with the electrons 'orbiting' like a microscopic 'solar system'.


Is an electron much larger than an atom?

No, since electrons are part of an atom, they are smaller -- much smaller. In fact, they weigh practically nothing.


What does one atom of calcium weigh?

One atom of calcium weighs approximately 40 atomic mass units.


Do the electrons of an atom contribute to mass of an atom?

Protons have a positive charge and weigh 1 AMU Neutrons have a neutral charge and weigh 1 AMU Electrons have a negative charge and 1184 electrons weigh 1AMU so they are thought to add nothing to the mass of an atom. You may want to check out Bohr's model or the duet/octet rule.


What is the lightest subatomic particle of an atom?

The lightest subatomic particle of an atom is the electron. It has a very small mass compared to protons and neutrons, making it a key component in determining the chemical properties of an atom.


How much does a technetium atom weigh?

A technetium atom has an atomic mass of around 98 atomic mass units.


Does an atom has mass?

Yes, atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons are neutrons each weigh 1 Atomic Mass unit (amu). Electrons weigh about 1/1836 of an amu and don't really contribute to the weight of an atom at all. The more protons and neutrons an atom has the more it weighs.


Why do 10 oxygen atoms weigh more than 10 carbon atoms?

Because an oxygen atom has 8 protons and 8 neutrons and 8 electrons. A carbon atom has only 6 of each. So 1 oxygen atom weighs more than 1 carbon atom and therefore 10 oxygen atoms weigh more than 10 carbon atoms.


What particles take up most of the mass of an atom?

Protons and neutrons make up most of the mass of an atom. Electrons weigh almost nothing by comparison.


When figuring atom mass what is ignored?

Electrons. They simply don't weigh enough to make a difference.


What is bigger a sodium atom or a carbon atom?

A sodium atom is larger than a carbon atom. This is because sodium has more electrons and protons, leading to a larger atomic radius compared to carbon.