1. What is the AMU Equation?

The AMU (Atomic Mass Unit) equation calculates the atomic mass of an atom by summing its protons and neutrons. This provides the mass number of an isotope.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the AMU equation:

Where:

• Protons — Number of protons in the nucleus (atomic number)
• Neutrons — Number of neutrons in the nucleus

Explanation: The mass number (AMU) is simply the sum of the fundamental particles that contribute significantly to an atom's mass.

3. Importance of AMU Calculation

Details: Calculating AMU is essential for understanding atomic structure, isotopic variations, and chemical properties of elements.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter whole numbers for protons and neutrons. Both values must be non-negative integers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why don't electrons contribute to AMU?
A: Electrons have negligible mass compared to protons and neutrons (about 1/1836th the mass of a proton).

Q2: What's the difference between AMU and atomic weight?
A: AMU refers to a single isotope, while atomic weight is the weighted average of all naturally occurring isotopes.

Q3: Can AMU be a decimal number?
A: For a single atom, AMU is always a whole number. Decimal values appear in atomic weights due to isotope averaging.

Q4: How does AMU relate to molar mass?
A: The molar mass in grams is numerically equal to the AMU of a substance (1 mole = 6.022×10²³ atoms).

Q5: Why is carbon-12 used as the AMU standard?
A: Carbon-12 was chosen as the reference (exactly 12 amu) because it's a stable, abundant isotope with a simple atomic structure.