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Atomic Mass (ma) is the mass of an atom. A single atom has a set number of protons and neutrons, so the mass is unequivocal (won't change) and is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the atom. ... Atomic weight is a weighted average of the mass of all the atoms of an element, based on the abundance of isotopes.

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Ethel Hauck

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16y ago

Atomic matter is a general term, and it speaks to an atom or group of atoms. It may possibly refer to the constituent components of atoms - protons, neutrons and electrons. Atomic weight is the weight of a "weighted average" of all the naturally occurring isotopes of a given element. Use the link to the related question for more information.

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10y ago

Atomic weight is an older term, usually it is called atomic mass now. Atomic mass is the most accurate mass that scientists can figure out for the weighted average of all isotopes that occur in nature. Atomic mass is a decimal number for this reason. Averaging several masses, even if they are whole numbers will give you some decimals.

Mass number is the sum of the protons and neutrons in a particular isotope. An element does not have a mass number. But each isotope will have a mass number. These are never decimal numbers, but will always be a whole number.

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11y ago

please describe the difference between atomic weight and mass

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Abigale Williams

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13y ago

Atomic number is the number of protons in an atom.

Mass number is total number of protons and neutrons in an atom.

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Atomic mass is the mass of an atom in atomic mass units, and includes protons, neutrons, and electrons; and atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom.

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Q: Difference between atomic weight and mass number?
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Which particles account for the difference between the atomic number and the mass number?

The answer is that it is neutrons that account for the difference between atomic weight and atomic number. The atomic number is the number of protons or the number of electrons in the atom, since they are normally equal. The atomic weightis the sum of the total number of protons, electrons AND neutrons in the atom. Knowing both the atomic number and the atomic weight of an atom lets you know the number of neutrons in the atom (the isotope). Example: Uranium, Atomic Number 92, Atomic Weight 235. The atomic number tell you that the uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons. The atomic weight tells you that it has a combined total of 235 protons, electrons and neutrons. Since you know from the atomic number that there is a total of 184 protons and electrons in the atom (92 + 92) and from the atomic weight that the total number of protons, electons and neutrons is 235 (92 + 92 + X = 235), you now know that there are 151 neutrons in that uranium atom. The atomic number and atomic weight together tell you that the uranium atom 235 has 92 protons, 92 electons and 151 neutrons.


What is the difference between the atomic number and the atomic weight of the known elements as listed on the periodic table?

The atomic number of the element is the number of protons or number of electrons in an atom of the element . The atomic weight of the element is the ratio of the mass of the atom to the 1/12th of the mass of the atom of carbon 12.


How do you calculate how many neutrons there are in an atom?

The number of neutrons in an atom is easily calculated by taking the mass number and subtracting the atomic number. Take for example, Uranium: the mass number on the periodic table is 238, while the atomic number is 92. Take the difference of 238 and 92 and that will be equal to the number of neutrons. 238-92=146


What elements on the periodic table are usually identified with three things?

Symbol, atomic number, and atomic weight.


What is the number in front of a chemical formula called-?

atomic number or atomic weight. Subscript: atomic number, superscript: atomic weight: 94Pu239 or 239Pu

Related questions

What is the difference between atomic number and atomic mass weight?

Atomic mass is the mass of an atom in atomic mass units, and includes protons, neutrons, and electrons; and atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom.


What is the difference between the atomic number mass number and atomic mass?

We can find Atomic Mass and mass number in chemical elements. Atomic mass is about weight of the atom. Mass number is about total of neutrons and protons.


What is the difference between mass number atomic mass and atomic number?

We can find atomic mass and mass number in chemical elements. Atomic mass is about weight of the atom. Mass number is about total of neutrons and protons.


What is the difference between the atomic number and average atomic mass?

We can find Atomic Mass and mass number in chemical elements. Atomic mass is about weight of the atom. Mass number is about total of neutrons and protons.


What is the difference between atomic mass and atomic weight?

Atomic Mass is the mass of an atom in atomic mass units, and includes protons, neutrons, and electrons; and atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom.


What is difference between atomic weight and atomic mass?

Atomic Mass is the mass of an atom in Atomic Mass units, and includes protons, neutrons, and electrons; and atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom.


What is the difference between average atomic mass and mass number?


What is the difference between mass number relative atomic mass and average atomic mass?


Which particles account for the difference between the atomic number and the mass number?

The answer is that it is neutrons that account for the difference between atomic weight and atomic number. The atomic number is the number of protons or the number of electrons in the atom, since they are normally equal. The atomic weightis the sum of the total number of protons, electrons AND neutrons in the atom. Knowing both the atomic number and the atomic weight of an atom lets you know the number of neutrons in the atom (the isotope). Example: Uranium, Atomic Number 92, Atomic Weight 235. The atomic number tell you that the uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons. The atomic weight tells you that it has a combined total of 235 protons, electrons and neutrons. Since you know from the atomic number that there is a total of 184 protons and electrons in the atom (92 + 92) and from the atomic weight that the total number of protons, electons and neutrons is 235 (92 + 92 + X = 235), you now know that there are 151 neutrons in that uranium atom. The atomic number and atomic weight together tell you that the uranium atom 235 has 92 protons, 92 electons and 151 neutrons.


What is the difference between the atomic number and the atomic weight of the known elements as listed on the periodic table?

The atomic number of the element is the number of protons or number of electrons in an atom of the element . The atomic weight of the element is the ratio of the mass of the atom to the 1/12th of the mass of the atom of carbon 12.


Explain what evidence is available on the periodic table that supports the idea of isotopes?

the difference between the atomic number and the average weight


What is the difference of a atomic number and atomic weight?

Atomic number is the number of a chemical element in the periodic table of Mendeleev; it is equal in the neutral state with the number of protons or electrons. Atomic weight is the mass of a chemical element (considering the isotopic composition) expressed in atomic mass units.