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Difference between Atomic Mass and Atomic Number
Sep
27
2011
Difference between Atomic Mass and Atomic Number
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Answer #1
The two numbers are commonly used in chemistry to reveal different information on how atoms are formed in the periodic table. Each number is expressive of specific measurements of an atom. Atoms are typically arranged in an orderly manner according to their atomic number whereas atomic mass is the number of a single atom when all atoms are added together.
Atomic mass is also described as the number of atoms found in the nucleus in form of neutrons and protons. All of these constituent particles weight about an atom per mas unit. Mass number is therefore the total count of all particles, which means that atomic number is close to atomic mass.
Atomic Mass
An atom is composed of electrons, neutrons and protons. It is described as the mass or weight of one atom or the weight of all electrons, protons and neutrons in one atom. Basic fundamentals of chemistry and physics show that mass tends to increase when atoms move at a high velocity. Nonetheless, the weight of electrons on one atom is small than the weight of neutrons and protons. This simply shows you that electrons do not contribute to the mass of an atom.
Atomic mass is extremely small thus is expressed in units like kilograms or grams. As a general rule of thumb, the RAM (Relative Atomic Mass) of a specific element is the weight of all isotopes.
Atomic number
This is the number of an atom in the periodic table. For example, helium is number two in the periodic table.
Summary:
* The atomic mass of an atom is the collective weight of electrons, protons and neutrons.
* Atomic number on the other hand is the position of an atom in the periodic table.
* As a general rule of thumb, the RAM of a specific element is the weight of all isotopes in the atom.