Question

Neutrons have about the same mass as protons, making them a major contributor to the mass of the atom.

Answer 1

Neutrons have a similar mass to protons and contribute significantly to the mass of the atom, while electrons have a much smaller mass and do not contribute significantly to the overall atomic mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

Neutrons have approximately the same mass as protons, making them a major contributor to the mass of the atom. Protons and neutrons have a mass of about 1.67 × 10-24 grams, which is defined as one atomic mass unit (amu) or one Dalton. Electrons, on the other hand, have a much smaller mass and do not contribute significantly to the overall atomic mass of an element. Therefore, when calculating atomic mass, it is customary to focus on the number of protons and neutrons.

Answer 2

Neutrons have a mass approximately equal to protons, around 1.67 x 10^-24 grams, which is one atomic mass unit. Electrons are much lighter and do not contribute significantly to the atom's mass but are critical for charge balance. An atom's mass is calculated mainly by the sum of its protons and neutrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mass of neutrons and protons is approximately the same, about 1.67 × 10-24 grams. This mass is defined as one atomic mass unit (amu) or one Dalton. While protons are positively charged, neutrons carry no electric charge.

When calculating the mass of an atom, the number of neutrons contributes significantly to its overall atomic mass but not to its charge. Electrons are much less massive, weighing only about 1/1800 of an atomic mass unit, and thus do not significantly contribute to an atom's mass. Nevertheless, electrons are essential for the charge balance of an atom.

An atom's overall mass is effectively the sum of its protons and neutrons. Since the mass of an electron is negligible compared to that of protons and neutrons, it is often disregarded when assessing an atom's mass. Nonetheless, electrons are crucial for the atom's electrical properties, balancing the positive charge of protons to form a neutral atom.