Francium has isotopes so how can it's atomic mass be a whole number?
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Why do francium, radon, radium, and actinium have whole numbers for average atomic mass even though they have isotopes? But then elements like beryllium, fluorine, and sodium are listed as having no isotopes but yet they have a decimal for their average atomic mass?
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Why do francium, radon, radium, and actinium have whole numbers for average atomic mass even though they have isotopes? But then elements like beryllium, fluorine, and sodium are listed as having no isotopes but yet they have a decimal for their average atomic mass?
physical-chemistry
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The Wikipedia data for Francium, Radon, Radium, and Actinium has mass numbers (protons + neutrons) not atomic masses since all the isotopes of these elements are radioactive.
â MaxW
56 mins ago
Elemant's names aren't capitalised.
â Mithoron
1 min ago
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up vote
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Why do francium, radon, radium, and actinium have whole numbers for average atomic mass even though they have isotopes? But then elements like beryllium, fluorine, and sodium are listed as having no isotopes but yet they have a decimal for their average atomic mass?
physical-chemistry
New contributor
Why do francium, radon, radium, and actinium have whole numbers for average atomic mass even though they have isotopes? But then elements like beryllium, fluorine, and sodium are listed as having no isotopes but yet they have a decimal for their average atomic mass?
physical-chemistry
physical-chemistry
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New contributor
edited 1 min ago
Mithoron
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asked 1 hour ago
M Floehr
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141
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The Wikipedia data for Francium, Radon, Radium, and Actinium has mass numbers (protons + neutrons) not atomic masses since all the isotopes of these elements are radioactive.
â MaxW
56 mins ago
Elemant's names aren't capitalised.
â Mithoron
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
1
The Wikipedia data for Francium, Radon, Radium, and Actinium has mass numbers (protons + neutrons) not atomic masses since all the isotopes of these elements are radioactive.
â MaxW
56 mins ago
Elemant's names aren't capitalised.
â Mithoron
1 min ago
1
1
The Wikipedia data for Francium, Radon, Radium, and Actinium has mass numbers (protons + neutrons) not atomic masses since all the isotopes of these elements are radioactive.
â MaxW
56 mins ago
The Wikipedia data for Francium, Radon, Radium, and Actinium has mass numbers (protons + neutrons) not atomic masses since all the isotopes of these elements are radioactive.
â MaxW
56 mins ago
Elemant's names aren't capitalised.
â Mithoron
1 min ago
Elemant's names aren't capitalised.
â Mithoron
1 min ago
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
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For highly radioactive elements that don't occur in large quantities in nature, the mass number listed is the mass number of the most stable isotope. When this is done, the value is often written in brackets. The wikipedia page for the Periodic table has some nice details on the organization of the table and the values included.
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For elements with no stable isotope (i.e. Francium, Radium, and Actinium), the atomic mass is chosen to be that of the longest lived isotope.
Sodium has more than one isotope, so that statement is not true. But more generally, the masses for stable elements are reflective of the natural abundance of each isotope in a sample of the element.
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
For highly radioactive elements that don't occur in large quantities in nature, the mass number listed is the mass number of the most stable isotope. When this is done, the value is often written in brackets. The wikipedia page for the Periodic table has some nice details on the organization of the table and the values included.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
For highly radioactive elements that don't occur in large quantities in nature, the mass number listed is the mass number of the most stable isotope. When this is done, the value is often written in brackets. The wikipedia page for the Periodic table has some nice details on the organization of the table and the values included.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
For highly radioactive elements that don't occur in large quantities in nature, the mass number listed is the mass number of the most stable isotope. When this is done, the value is often written in brackets. The wikipedia page for the Periodic table has some nice details on the organization of the table and the values included.
For highly radioactive elements that don't occur in large quantities in nature, the mass number listed is the mass number of the most stable isotope. When this is done, the value is often written in brackets. The wikipedia page for the Periodic table has some nice details on the organization of the table and the values included.
answered 56 mins ago
Tyberius
6,27731859
6,27731859
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add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
For elements with no stable isotope (i.e. Francium, Radium, and Actinium), the atomic mass is chosen to be that of the longest lived isotope.
Sodium has more than one isotope, so that statement is not true. But more generally, the masses for stable elements are reflective of the natural abundance of each isotope in a sample of the element.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
For elements with no stable isotope (i.e. Francium, Radium, and Actinium), the atomic mass is chosen to be that of the longest lived isotope.
Sodium has more than one isotope, so that statement is not true. But more generally, the masses for stable elements are reflective of the natural abundance of each isotope in a sample of the element.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
For elements with no stable isotope (i.e. Francium, Radium, and Actinium), the atomic mass is chosen to be that of the longest lived isotope.
Sodium has more than one isotope, so that statement is not true. But more generally, the masses for stable elements are reflective of the natural abundance of each isotope in a sample of the element.
For elements with no stable isotope (i.e. Francium, Radium, and Actinium), the atomic mass is chosen to be that of the longest lived isotope.
Sodium has more than one isotope, so that statement is not true. But more generally, the masses for stable elements are reflective of the natural abundance of each isotope in a sample of the element.
answered 54 mins ago
PJ R
3865
3865
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M Floehr is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
M Floehr is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
M Floehr is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
M Floehr is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
The Wikipedia data for Francium, Radon, Radium, and Actinium has mass numbers (protons + neutrons) not atomic masses since all the isotopes of these elements are radioactive.
â MaxW
56 mins ago
Elemant's names aren't capitalised.
â Mithoron
1 min ago