Question
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
Electrons only
Neutrons plus electrons
Protons plus neutrons
Protons plus electrons plus neutrons
Neutrons only
Protons only
Protons plus electrons
Previous
Ask by Ball Patel. in the United States
Dec 19,2024
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
Atomic mass includes protons and neutrons.
Solution
The atomic mass of an element primarily includes the combined masses of its protons and neutrons in the nucleus. While electrons do contribute to the overall charge of the atom, their mass is relatively negligible compared to protons and neutrons.
Correct Answer:
- Protons plus neutrons
Explanation:
- Protons and Neutrons: These are the particles that reside in the nucleus of an atom and contribute most significantly to its mass. Each proton and neutron has a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu).
- Electrons: Although electrons are part of an atom, their mass is about 1/1836 that of a proton, making their contribution to atomic mass virtually insignificant for most practical purposes.
Incorrect Options:
- Electrons only: Electrons contribute negligibly to atomic mass.
- Neutrons plus electrons: While neutrons contribute to mass, electrons do not significantly.
- Protons plus electrons plus neutrons: Including electrons is unnecessary as their mass is minimal.
- Neutrons only: Protons also contribute significantly.
- Protons only: Neutrons also contribute significantly.
- Protons plus electrons: Neutrons are missing, which are essential for atomic mass.
Understanding that atomic mass is primarily determined by protons and neutrons helps in comprehending various aspects of chemistry and physics, including isotopic variations and the behavior of elements in different reactions.
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Simplify this solution Extra Insights
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!
