Given a 60⋅amu mass of carbon atoms, how many carbon atoms are there?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 13, 2017

A 60⋅amu mass of 12C contains 5 carbon atoms........

Explanation:

A single 12C atom contains 6 nuclear protons, and 6 neutrons, and to a first approx. this represents the mass of the atom. Five 12C atoms should thus have a mass of 60⋅amu.

This use of mass to express the number of atoms or the number of molecules, is enshrined by our use of Avogadro's number, and the idea of equivalent mass. This is one of the most important things you can learn as you study chemistry.

What is the actual mass of 6.022×1023 individual 12C atoms; what about the mass of 6.022×1023 13C atoms?

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