Final answer:
The mass of a single carbon atom is 1.9942 × 10^-23 grams, obtained by multiplying the atomic mass (12.011 amu) by the conversion factor between amu and grams (1 amu equals 1.660539 × 10^-24 grams).
Step-by-step explanation:
The periodic table lists the atomic mass of carbon as 12.011 atomic mass units (amu). To determine the mass of a single carbon atom in grams, we use the conversion that 1 amu equals 1.660539 × 10-24 grams. Therefore, the mass of one carbon atom can be calculated as:
12.011 amu × 1.660539 × 10-24 g/amu = 1.9942 × 10-23 grams (rounded to five significant figures).
Keep in mind, comparing the masses of atoms is often done using the atomic mass unit rather than grams because the mass values in grams for individual atoms are extremely small and less convenient for comparison and calculation purposes.