Why atomic mass unit is needed
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Actual mass of atoms of elements are very very small. For example , one atom of hydrogen (H) has a mass of 1.673 x10^minus 24 gram or 0.000000000000000000000001673 gram.
It is not convenient to use such a small and complicated figure in our calculations. so it was necessary to define atomic masses in such a way that we get simple figures for them.
so carbon -12 atom has been assigned an atomic mass of exactly 12 atomic mass units.(earlier atomic mass was written as a.m.u but nowadays u ( unified mass us used).
so, atomic mass unit= 1/12 the mass of carbon 12 atom.
I hope it is clear.
It is not convenient to use such a small and complicated figure in our calculations. so it was necessary to define atomic masses in such a way that we get simple figures for them.
so carbon -12 atom has been assigned an atomic mass of exactly 12 atomic mass units.(earlier atomic mass was written as a.m.u but nowadays u ( unified mass us used).
so, atomic mass unit= 1/12 the mass of carbon 12 atom.
I hope it is clear.
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