How does #"Avogadro's number"# relate to the atomic mass of #""^12C# isotope?

1 Answer
anor277
Sep 20, 2015

Suppose we isolated an atom of carbon-12. Would you agree that this atom has a definite and measurable mass?

Explanation:

I think you would agree this of that atom. If instead of 1 atom of carbon-12, I had exactly Avogadro's number of carbon-12 atoms, I would have a mass of 12 grams precisely. Avogadro's number (which you will certainly not need to memorize is approx. #6.022 xx 10^23#. Avogadro's number is the link between atoms and molecules, to the macro world of grams and kilograms.

If you look on the Periodic Table, the molar mass of carbon is 12.011 g. Can you account for this?

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