- #1
J_o_S
- 18
- 0
which is more important to the chemical behaviour of an element?
cant seem to find this anwhere
cant seem to find this anwhere
Atomic mass is the total mass of an atom, which is mainly determined by the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Atomic number, on the other hand, is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. In other words, atomic mass tells us the mass of the atom as a whole, while atomic number tells us the identity of the element.
Atomic mass and atomic number are related in that they both provide information about the composition of an atom. The atomic number is equal to the number of protons, which also determines the element's identity. The atomic mass, on the other hand, is the sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus, so it is always slightly larger than the atomic number.
The atomic mass of an element is listed in decimal form because it takes into account the average mass of all the isotopes of that element. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, resulting in slightly different atomic masses. The decimal form takes into account the abundance of each isotope to provide a more accurate representation of the average mass of the element.
Atomic mass and atomic weight are often used interchangeably, but they are slightly different. Atomic mass is the mass of a single atom, while atomic weight is the average mass of all the atoms of an element, taking into account the abundance of each isotope. Atomic weight is listed on the periodic table, while atomic mass can vary slightly depending on the isotope.
Atomic number is more important than atomic mass in determining an element's properties because it is the atomic number that determines the element's identity and its position on the periodic table. The number of protons in the nucleus determines the element's chemical and physical properties, while the mass may vary slightly due to the presence of different isotopes.