Question

What is the significance of an element having fractional atomic mass?

Answer 1

The atomic masses of most elements are fractional because they exist as a mixture of isotopes of different masses.

Explanation:

Most elements occur as a mixture of isotopes of different masses. The fractional atomic masses arise because of this mixture.

Avg. mass = total mass of all atoms/number of atoms.

Before we calculate the average mass of atoms, let's use an analogy.

Assume that a class contains 10 boys (mass 60 kg) and 20 girls (mass 55 kg).
What is the average mass of the students.

Mass of boys = 600 kg
Mass of girls = 1100 kg
Total mass of students = 1700 kg

Avg. mass of 1 student=1700 kg30 students=56.7 kg/student