What is the mass (in amu) of a carbon-12 atom? Why is the atomic mass of carbon listed as 12.01 amu in the table on the inside front cover of this book?

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Chemistry

Miley Reynolds

5 June, 18:35

What is the mass (in amu) of a carbon-12 atom? Why is the atomic mass of carbon listed as 12.01 amu in the table on the inside front cover of this book?

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Harrison Sweeney · Answer 1

The mass of a carbon-12 atom is 12amu. The mass of carbon is listed as 12.01amu in the table in the front cover of your book because that is the average mass of carbon, this includes other carbon isotopes in the calculation such as carbon-13.