Table of Contents
Introduction :
An isotopic mass is the mass of an atom of a particular isotope. The isotopic mass of an atom is the sum of the masses of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus of the atom. The mass of an atom is usually measured in atomic mass units (u).
Expressing Atomic Mass
The atomic mass of an element is the mass of one atom of that element, relative to the mass of a carbon-12 atom. This means that the atomic mass of an element is expressed in terms of the mass of a carbon-12 atom. The atomic mass of an element can be expressed in either atomic mass units (amu) or grams.
Isotopic Mass Definition
The isotopic mass of an element is the total mass of the atoms of that element, including the mass of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus. The isotopic mass of an element is different from the atomic mass, which is the mass of the atom without the protons and neutrons.
How to Find Isotopic Mass?
To find the isotopic mass of an atom, you must first know the atomic number of the atom and the mass of the atom. Once you have these two pieces of information, you can use a formula to calculate the isotopic mass.
The isotopic mass of an atom is calculated using the following formula:
Isotopic Mass = (Atomic Number) (Mass of Atom)
For example, let’s say you want to calculate the isotopic mass of an atom with an atomic number of 6 and a mass of 12.
Isotopic Mass = (6) (12)
Isotopic Mass = 72
Relative Isotopic Masses
The relative isotopic masses of isotopes are measured in atomic mass units (u). An atomic mass unit is defined as 1/12 the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
The relative isotopic masses of the isotopes of an element are usually listed in order from the lightest to the heaviest. The relative isotopic mass of a nuclide is the mass of the nuclide relative to the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
Average Isotopic Mass
The average isotopic mass is a measure of the average of the masses of the isotopes of an element.
Uses of Isotopes
One common use of isotopes is in medical tests. By using isotopes, doctors can track the movement of a particular element through the body. This can be helpful in diagnosing and treating medical problems.
Isotopes are also used in research. Scientists use isotopes to learn more about the properties of elements and how they interact with other elements. This information can be used to develop new products and technologies.
Isotopes are also used in industry. For example, isotopes can be used to measure the thickness of materials. This information can be used to improve manufacturing processes.
