* Mass of a Proton: Protons have a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit (amu). This is a very small unit of mass, but it's significant at the atomic level.
* Atomic Mass: The atomic mass of an atom is primarily determined by the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus.
* Neutron's Role: Neutrons also have a mass of approximately 1 amu.
* Electron's Role: Electrons are much smaller than protons and neutrons, with a mass of only about 1/1836 amu. Their contribution to the overall mass of an atom is negligible.
In summary:
* Protons contribute significantly to the overall mass of an atom, making up about half of the total atomic mass (along with neutrons).
* The number of protons (atomic number) defines the element, while the total number of protons and neutrons (mass number) determines the specific isotope of that element.
Example:
* Carbon-12 has 6 protons and 6 neutrons. Its atomic mass is approximately 12 amu (6 protons + 6 neutrons). The electrons' mass is negligible in this calculation.
