26.1k views
2 votes
The atomic masses of elements are generally not whole numbers. Explain why.​

User Lionell
by
4.4k points

2 Answers

1 vote

Answer:

The atomic masses of most elements are not whole numbers, because they are a weighted average of the mass numbers of the different isotopes of that element, with respect to their abundances in nature.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Marcel Gheorghita
by
4.5k points
3 votes

Answer:

Because elements have isotopes.

Step-by-step explanation:

So the atomic mass is the average of an element's isotopes.

User Danmichaelo
by
4.4k points