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What is the difference between the mass number and the atomic mass? Why is the

mass number a good approximation for atomic mass

User James Doherty
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8 votes
8 votes

Answer:

The mass number is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom. It is a whole number. The atomic mass is the average number of protons and neutrons for all natural isotopes of an element

An element's mass number (A) is the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons. ... This approximation of mass can be used to easily calculate how many neutrons an element has by simply subtracting the number of protons from the mass number. Protons and neutrons both weigh about one atomic mass unit or amu

User Elserj
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