Question

The mass number of a specific atom cannot be found on the periodic table because the

periodic table lists the atomic mass of each element. Justify this statement by
explaining the difference between mass number and atomic mass.

Answer 1

The mass number of an atom represents the total number of protons and neutrons, while the atomic mass is the average mass of all isotopes of an element. The mass number is specific to each atom and not listed on the periodic table.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mass number of an atom represents the total number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. It is specific to each atom and is not listed on the periodic table. On the other hand, atomic mass refers to the average mass of all the naturally occurring isotopes of an element. It is listed on the periodic table as a decimal number.

For example, the mass number of a carbon atom in its most common form (carbon-12) is 12, while the atomic mass listed on the periodic table is approximately 12.01.

Therefore, the mass number cannot be found on the periodic table because it varies for different isotopes of an element, whereas the atomic mass represents the average mass across all isotopes.

Learn more about Difference between mass number and atomic mass