Q

QuestionAnatomy and Physiology

Why is the atomic mass of iron, 55.845 amu , most similar to the mass of iron- 56, yet less than 56 amu ? The atomic mass is the simple average of the masses of the two most abundant isotopes. Iron- 56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron- 56. The second most abundant isotope is iron- 54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu . The atomic mass is the weighted average of the masses of the two most abundant isotopes. Iron- 56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron- 56. The second most abundant isotope is iron- 54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu . The atomic mass is the weighted average of the masses of all of the isotopes. Iron- 56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron- 56. The second most abundant isotope is iron- 54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu . The atomic mass is the simple average of the masses of all of the isotopes. Iron- 56 is the most abundant isotope, so the atomic mass of iron is most similar to the mass of iron- 56. The second most abundant isotope is iron- 54, which reduces the atomic mass to less than 56 amu .