Atomic masses of elements are usually fractional because

Question

Atomic masses of elements are usually fractional because (A) they exist as a mixture of isotopes of different masses (B) they contain impurities of other atoms (C) they are mixtures of isobars (D) they cannot be weighed accurately

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

Atomic masses are the average atomic masses of the mixture of isotopes and calculated on the basis of relative abundance, hence they are usually fractional

Q. Atomic masses of elements are usually fractional because

they exist as a mixture of isotopes of different masses

they contain impurities of other atoms

they are mixtures of isobars

they cannot be weighed accurately

Atomic masses are the average atomic masses of the mixture of isotopes and calculated on the basis of relative abundance, hence they are usually fractional