What does the atomic mass of an element include? Electrons only Neutrons plus electrons Protons plus neutrons Protons plus electrons plus neutrons Neutrons only Protons only Protons plus electrons Previous

The atomic mass of an element primarily includes the mass of protons and neutrons. While electrons do have a mass, it is so negligible compared to protons and neutrons that they don't significantly contribute to the overall atomic mass. This makes the atomic mass a reflection of the nuclei's content, where the protons and neutrons reside, giving us insight into the element's identity and stability! In practical terms, the atomic mass is often displayed on the periodic table as a weighted average of all the isotopes of that element. For example, the atomic mass of carbon is approximately 12.01 u (atomic mass units), accounting for the relative abundance of its isotopes, primarily carbon-12 and carbon-13. This average helps scientists understand not just the element's characteristics but also its behavior in various chemical reactions!