QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
An isotope of oxygen has 8 protons, 10 neutrons, and 8 electrons. What is the atomic mass of this isotope?
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Answer
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Step 1:: Identify the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in the isotope.
The problem states that there are 8 protons, 10 neutrons, and 8 electrons in the isotope.
Step 2:: Recall the definition of atomic mass.
Atomic mass is the mass of an atom, usually expressed in atomic mass units (amu). It is determined by the number of protons and neutrons in the atom's nucleus. Electrons are not considered in calculating atomic mass because they are significantly lighter than protons and neutrons.
Step 3:: Calculate the atomic mass of the isotope.
Since protons and neutrons have approximately the same mass, we can approximate the atomic mass by adding the number of protons and neutrons together. Atomic mass (in amu) = Number of protons + Number of neutrons = 8 protons + 10 neutrons = 18 amu
Final Answer
The atomic mass of the given isotope of oxygen is approximately 18 amu.
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