Question

Why atomic masses are average values?

Answer 1

Answer:

Many elements exist in different forms, known as isotopes. They have different atomic mass. So for any specific element, the average of the atomic mass of all isotopes is considered for different calculation purposes. It is known as average atomic mass.

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Answer 2

Because of the presence of isotopes.

Explanation:

Average atomic mass of an element is defined as the sum of atomic masses of each isotope each multiplied by their natural fractional abundance.

Formula used to calculate average atomic mass follows:$\text{Average atomic mass }=\sum_{i=1}^n\text{(Atomic mass of an isotopes)}_i\times \text{(Fractional abundance})_i$

where i is equal to 1, 2,3 ......

For example , chlorine has two isotopes with one isotope with mass of 34.969  amu and % abundance of 75.77% whereas other isotope has mass of 36.965  amu and % abundance of  24.23 %. Thus average atomic mass will be:

$\text{ Average atomic mass of chlorine}=\sum[34.969\times 0.7577)+36.969\times 0.2423]=35.4536amu$

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