Question

How is the weighted average atomic mass of an element calculated?

and

How is the atomic number (Z) determined for an isotope?

Answer 1

1. Hello the weighted atomic mass is calculated through multiplying each isotope’s mass number by their percent abundance divided by 100. We then add each of these values up to find the weighted atomic mass.

2. The atomic number is determined for an isotope through subtracting the amount of neutrons, or looking at the amount of protons of an element, as only neutrons are varied within an isotope.