Question

why carbon 12 is used as a reference for atomic mass unit​

Answer 1

Answer:

Carbon-12 is of particular importance in its use as the standard from which atomic masses of all nuclides are measured, thus, its atomic mass is exactly 12 daltons by definition. Carbon-12 is composed of 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons.

Isotope mass: 12 u

Parent isotopes: 12N; 12B

Names: carbon-12, C-12

Symbol: 12C

Answer 2

Explanation:

Carbon 12 was chosen because the chemical atomic weights based on C12 are almost identical to the chemical atomic weights based on the natural mix of oxygen. Because no other nuclides other than carbon-12 have exactly whole-number masses on this scale. Carbon-12 is composed of 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons.