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The atomic mass shown on the periodic chart is the weighted average of the naturally occurring isotopes of that element.
It works like this: What is the average weight of 4 people where three weigh 120 and one weighs 90? (In this group, the most common weight is 120 so the average will be close to 120) The weighted average is:
75% x 120 + 25% x 90 = 90 + 22.5 = 112.5
All of the member's weights were whole numbers but the average is a fraction.
Each isotope, similarly, has a whole number weight but they occur at different percentages.
If you see a whole number weight on the periodic chart it is the weight of the longest-lived isotope since it has no naturally occurring stable isotopes...you will sometimes see this weight in parentheses.
The Atomic Mass of elements is determined by the weighted average of the isotopes present in nature, taking into account their relative abundance. Since isotopes have different masses, the calculated atomic mass may not be a whole number. Additionally, the presence of isotopic fractions can contribute to the decimal values in the atomic mass.
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Why is the atomic mass of an element not a whole number while the atomic number is?
The atomic mass of an element is not a whole number because it includes the average mass of all isotopes of that element and their relative abundance. Isotopes have different masses due to varying numbers of neutrons, causing the atomic mass to be a weighted average. In contrast, the atomic number is a whole number representing the number of protons in an atom, which defines the element.
What is the atomic number of 6?
The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in its nucleus. Since the atomic number of an element is always a whole number, the atomic number of 6 is 6.
The mass number of an element is equal to what of an element?
The mass number of an element is equal to the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of that element.
What is an element's atomic mass not listed as a whole number on the periodic table?
Few elements have isotopes. their atomic mass is not a whole number.
What number is the whole number found in the periodic table?
There are two numbers that are included in every element's block on every periodic table. The whole number, which can range from 1 - 118 is the atomic number of that element. The atomic number is the number of protons in the nuclei of the atoms of that element. The second number is the atomic weight and is never a whole number, except for the artificially prepared elements, and then it is a whole number written inside parentheses.There may be other numbers listed as well, depending on the periodic table. All periodic tables have a key as to what everything inside each block represents.
Can the empirical formula of a compound be triple its molecular formula?
No, the empirical formula represents the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound, while the molecular formula shows the actual number of each element present in a compound. Therefore, the empirical formula cannot be triple the molecular formula.
Is 1 the identity element or a whole number?
1 is a whole number. It is the identity element with respect to multiplication but not addition.
What could be a molecular formula for the empirical formula C2H2?
The molecular formula for the empirical formula C2H2 is also C2H2. The empirical formula gives the simplest whole number ratio of atoms present in a compound, whereas the molecular formula provides the actual number of atoms of each element in a molecule.
How does the empirical formula differ form the molecular formula?
The empirical formula shows the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms in a compound, while the molecular formula gives the actual number of each type of atom present in a molecule. For example, glucose has an empirical formula of CH2O and a molecular formula of C6H12O6, showing the actual number of atoms in each molecule.
What element has the atomic number for 3.14?
There is no element with the atomic number 3.14. Atomic numbers are whole numbers that represent the number of protons in an atom's nucleus.
Does the mass number of an element have to be a whole number?
Approximately, yes. But the mass number is an average of the masses of the isotopes of the element, weighted together according to their abundance. This averaging of different whole numbers results in the mass number not being a whole number.
Is C4H10 an empirical formula or a molecular formula for butane?
C4H10 is the molecular formula for butane, as it represents the actual number of atoms of each element in a single molecule of the compound. The empirical formula for butane would be CH5, as it shows the simplest whole number ratio of atoms present in the compound.
What is the atomic number of an element represented by the diagrams?
The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in its nucleus. It is represented by the whole number above the element's symbol in the periodic table.
Why an accurate value of Ar is not a whole number?
because it is a decimal
Is zero the identity element for whole number-multiplicaton?
No.
Why is the atomic mass of an element not a whole number while the atomic number is?
The atomic mass of an element is not a whole number because it includes the average mass of all isotopes of that element and their relative abundance. Isotopes have different masses due to varying numbers of neutrons, causing the atomic mass to be a weighted average. In contrast, the atomic number is a whole number representing the number of protons in an atom, which defines the element.
What do whole numbers on the periodic table represent?
The whole number, the one at the top, above the element's symbol in the element box, is the atomic number. The atomic number is the number of protons per atom in that particular element. The bottom number, that is always a decimal, is the atomic mass.
