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Explain what the atomic number and atomic mass of an element represent. use an example of an element. describe how the atomic number and atomic mass of an element are calculated.

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Final answer:

The atomic number represents the number of protons in an element's nucleus, while the atomic mass is the weighted average of the masses of its isotopes. For example, carbon has an atomic number of 6 and an atomic mass of 12.011 u. The atomic mass can be calculated by considering the relative abundance of the isotopes and their masses.

Step-by-step explanation:

The atomic number of an element represents the number of protons in its nucleus. It is the characteristic number that defines the identity of an element. For example, carbon (C) has an atomic number of 6, which means it has 6 protons.

The atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of the masses of its naturally occurring isotopes. It is usually a decimal number and is found below the element symbol on the periodic table. Using the data provided in the table, we can calculate the atomic mass of carbon by multiplying the mass of each isotope by its relative abundance and adding them together.

User Morten Fjeldstad
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The atomic number is how many protons are in the nucleus of the atom. The atomic mass is how much mass is in the atom. Example: The atomic number of Helium is 2, and the atomic mass is 4. To calculate the atomic number, simply count the protons. To calculate the atomic mass of an atom, add up the mass of protons and neutrons. Hope this helped! c:
User Omninonsense
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