an atomic unit is definedas exactly [one of the following]:
1) 1/14 the mass of a 14N atom
2) 1/12 the mass of a 12C atom
3) 1/19 the mass of a 19F atom
4) 1/16 the mass of a 16O atom
(the 1/14, 1/12 and so on are fractions)
(the number in 14N, 12C, and so on are supposed to be small and written at the top [like exponents i guess])
whats the answer?
please and thanks
2006-10-05 12:11:35 · 4 answers · asked by um yea hi 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
and why???
2006-10-05 12:27:46 · update #1
If you ignore the weight of the electrons, all of these are true.
1 amu = mass of 1 proton = mass of 1 neutron
12C is more properly written as: C-12, meaning the isotope of the carbon-12 atom.
C-12 has 6 protons and 6 neutrons in its nucleus, thus a total of 12 particles in the nucleus. Since each particle equals 1 amu, then C-12 has a mass equal to 12 amu.
AND ALL THE OTHERS ARE ALSO CORRECT!
But your teacher is gonna say 1/12 of C-12 atom, because that is how amu is truely defined. But I still say the others are also correct. Ask her THAT, and then you will see that your teacher maybe just doesn't understand as much as she thinks. But she probably won't admit it.
And I GUARENTEE I am right!
2006-10-05 12:16:19 · answer #1 · answered by MrZ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
number 2
2006-10-05 19:19:16 · answer #2 · answered by Kalooka 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Choice # 2---1/4 the mass of 12C atom or carbon.
2006-10-05 19:15:59 · answer #3 · answered by Retarded Genius 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no. 2
2006-10-05 19:21:16 · answer #4 · answered by latif_1950 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋