1. What is Atomic Mass?

Atomic mass (also called atomic weight) is the total mass of protons and neutrons in an atom, measured in atomic mass units (amu). It's approximately equal to the sum of protons and neutrons since electrons contribute negligible mass.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the atomic mass formula:

Where:

• Protons — Number of protons in the nucleus (equal to atomic number)
• Neutrons — Number of neutrons in the nucleus

Explanation: This provides a simplified calculation of atomic mass. The actual atomic weight on the periodic table accounts for isotopic distributions.

3. Importance of Atomic Mass

Details: Atomic mass is fundamental for understanding chemical properties, calculating molar masses, and predicting nuclear behavior. It's essential for stoichiometric calculations in chemistry.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of protons (must be ≥1) and neutrons (must be ≥0). The calculator will sum them to give the approximate atomic mass in amu.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why isn't electron mass included?
A: Electron mass is negligible (about 1/1836th of a proton's mass) for most practical calculations.

Q2: How does this differ from mass number?
A: They're essentially the same - mass number is another term for the sum of protons and neutrons.

Q3: Why do periodic tables show decimal atomic weights?
A: Those values account for natural isotopic distributions and are weighted averages.

Q4: Can this be used for ions?
A: Yes, since electron count doesn't significantly affect atomic mass.

Q5: What's the range of valid inputs?
A: Protons must be ≥1 (hydrogen has 1 proton), neutrons ≥0 (hydrogen-1 has 0 neutrons).