Chemistry (12th Edition)

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0132525763
ISBN 13: 978-0-13252-576-3

Chapter 4 - Atomic Structure - 4.3 Distinguishing Among Atoms - 4.3 Lesson Check - Page 119: 32

Answer

Atomic mass units are not generally whole numbers as they represent a weighted average of all the isotopes.

Work Step by Step

Atomic mass units are calculate by adding the product of the mass of the isotope with it's percent relative abundance and thus it is in decimal form and not whole number.
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