Is AMU the unit for both 'atomic mass' and 'molecular mass'?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the use of atomic mass units (AMU) as a measurement for both atomic and molecular mass. AMU is fundamentally a unit of mass applicable to any object, although it was specifically designed for atoms. For example, hydrogen has a mass of approximately 1 u, and carbon has a mass of about 12 u. When atoms combine to form molecules, their combined mass can also be expressed in AMU, making it suitable for molecular mass calculations as well. The versatility of AMU allows for its use in various contexts, even extending to unconventional examples like the mass of a car.
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Is 'AMU' the unit for both 'atomic mass' and 'molecular mass'?
 
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HCverma said:
Is 'AMU' the unit for both 'atomic mass' and 'molecular mass'?
Well, an atomic mass unit is a unit of mass, so you can use it to represent anything. You could even say "My car weighs <insert large number here> atomic mass units".

It was designed for atoms though, e.g. hydrogen has a mass of ~1 u, carbon has a mass of ~12 u, etc. If you combine those, you could use it for molecular mass too.
 
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enter said:
"My car weighs <insert large number here> atomic mass units".

7.6×1027
 
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