what is the atomic mass unit
What is the atomic mass unit?
Answer:
The Atomic Mass Unit (amu) is a unit of mass used to express atomic and molecular weights. It is defined as one twelfth of the mass of an atom of carbon-12, which is approximately equal to the mass of a proton or neutron. The atomic mass unit is a convenient way to express the mass of atoms without dealing with large decimal numbers. The proton and neutron each have a mass of about 1 amu, and the mass of electrons is considered negligible compared to protons and neutrons. Therefore, the atomic mass of an atom is a weighted average of the masses of its isotopes based on their natural abundance. It is an essential concept in chemistry and is used to calculate the molar mass of elements and compounds.