The relative mass of a proton is 1 and the relative mass of a neutron is 1. 1)Why do we use the term "relative mass" instead of mass? Is it because the mass of a proton is compared to the mass of a carbon-12 atom?
2) Can we say that the relative mass of an atom is 2 (proton+neutron)?
3) Is "relative mass" the same as "relative atomic mass"?
Please urgently help. Thanks.
Relative mass is mass relative to 1/12 of Carbon-12. We use because it relates to a common unit (Atomic Mass Unit).
2) yes.
3) yes.
1) The term "relative mass" is used instead of simply "mass" because it allows for comparisons. Relative mass is a way of expressing the mass of a particle or object relative to another reference point. In the case of protons and neutrons, their relative mass is compared to that of a carbon-12 atom. By using a reference point, we can express the mass of particles in relation to something else, which helps in understanding and comparing their sizes.
2) No, we cannot say that the relative mass of an atom is 2 simply by adding the relative masses of a proton and a neutron. The relative mass of an atom is determined by considering the masses and proportions of all the particles present in the atom. In addition to protons and neutrons, atoms also contain electrons, which have a much smaller mass compared to protons and neutrons. The relative mass of an atom is calculated by taking the weighted average of the masses of all its isotopes (atoms with the same number of protons but different number of neutrons) and considering their relative abundance.
3) "Relative mass" and "relative atomic mass" are not exactly the same, although they are related. Relative mass, as discussed earlier, compares the mass of a particle or object to a reference point. On the other hand, relative atomic mass specifically refers to the average mass of the atoms of an element relative to the mass of a carbon-12 atom, which is assigned a mass of exactly 12 units. It takes into account the different isotopes of the element and their relative abundance. So, while relative atomic mass is a type of relative mass, not all relative masses are relative atomic masses.