Calculating Average Atomic Mass

Front

What is true about a neutral atom?

Back

The number of protons equals the number of electrons.

Front

What is the composition of a neutral atom of the isotope 26_12Mg?

Back

12 protons, 14 neutrons, 12 electrons.

Front

What information is needed to calculate average atomic mass?

Back

The atomic mass and percent abundance of each isotope.

Front

What are isotopes?

Back

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Front

How do isotopes of the same element differ?

Back

They have different masses due to differing numbers of neutrons.

Front

What is the atomic mass of an element?

Back

The weighted average of the masses of an element's isotopes based on their natural abundance.

Front

What is percent abundance?

Back

The relative amount of each isotope of an element in a natural sample, expressed as a percentage.

Front

How do you calculate the average atomic mass of an element?

Back

Multiply the atomic mass of each isotope by its percent abundance (as a decimal), then sum these values.

Front

What is the significance of protons in an atom?

Back

Protons determine the atomic number and identity of the element.

Front

What role do neutrons play in an atom?

Back

Neutrons contribute to the mass of the atom and can affect the stability of the nucleus.