Question:
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 .
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