| While the number of
protons
and
electrons
remain constant in the neutral
atom
, the number of
neutrons
may vary within different
atom
species of the same
element
. As a result, the
atomic mass
for one
atom
may be different from another
atom
of the same
element
if the number of
neutrons
varies.
Atomic mass
must account for all possible species or nuclides (isotopes), of an atom.
Carbon
12 with its 6
neutrons
is by far the most common isotope of
carbon
. In reality, there is a
carbon
14 which has eight
neutrons
and an atomic mass of 14. There is also a
carbon
11 which has only five
neutrons
. |
See Also