HOME PAGE * KS3 SCIENCES * GCSE BIOLOGY CHEMISTRY PHYSICS * ADVANCED LEVEL CHEMISTRY

IGCSE/GCSE/Advanced A level Chemistry Calculations: Defining and calculating relative atomic mass

Scroll down and take time to study the content and/or follow links or [Use the website search box] 04/08/2022

58, relative atomic mass of Cl Chlorine 17, relative atomic mass of Cr Chromium 24, relative atomic mass of Co Cobalt 27, relative atomic mass of Cu Copper 29, relative atomic mass of Dy Dysprosium 66, relative atomic mass of Er Erbium 68, relative atomic mass of Eu Europium 63, relative atomic mass of F Fluorine 9, relative atomic mass of Fr Francium 87, relative atomic mass of Gd Gadolinium 64, relative atomic mass of Ga Gallium 31, relative atomic mass of Ge Germanium 32, relative atomic mass of Au Gold 79, relative atomic mass of Hf Hafnium 72, relative atomic mass of He Helium 2, relative atomic mass of Ho Holmium 67, relative atomic mass of H Hydrogen 1, relative atomic mass of In Indium 49, relative atomic mass of I Iodine 53, relative atomic mass of Ir Iridium 77, relative atomic mass of Fe Iron 26, relative atomic mass of Kr Krypton 36, relative atomic mass of La Lanthanum 57, relative atomic mass of Pb Lead 82, relative atomic mass of Li Lithium 3, relative atomic mass of Lu Lutetium 71, relative atomic mass of Mg Magnesium 12, relative atomic mass of Mn Manganese 25, relative atomic mass of Hg Mercury 80, relative atomic mass of Mo Molybdenum 42, relative atomic mass of Nd Neodymium 60, relative atomic mass of Ne Neon 10, relative atomic mass of Ni Nickel 28, relative atomic mass of Nb Niobium 41, relative atomic mass of N Nitrogen 7, relative atomic mass of Os Osmium 76, relative atomic mass of O Oxygen 8, relative atomic mass of Pd Palladium 46, relative atomic mass of P Phosphorus 15, relative atomic mass of Pt Platinum 78, relative atomic mass of Po Polonium 84, relative atomic mass of K Potassium 19, relative atomic mass of Pr Praseodymium 59, relative atomic mass of Pm Promethium 61, relative atomic mass of Pa Protactinium 91, relative atomic mass of Ra Radium 88, relative atomic mass of Rn Radon 86, relative atomic mass of Re Rhenium 75, relative atomic mass of Rh Rhodium 45, relative atomic mass of Rb Rubidium 37, relative atomic mass of Ru Ruthenium 44, relative atomic mass of Sm Samarium 62, relative atomic mass of Sc Scandium 21, relative atomic mass of Se Selenium 34, relative atomic mass of Si Silicon 14, relative atomic mass of Ag Silver 47, relative atomic mass of Na Sodium 11, relative atomic mass of Sr Strontium 38, relative atomic mass of S Sulfur 16, relative atomic mass of Ta Tantalum 73, relative atomic mass of Tc Technetium 43, relative atomic mass of Te Tellurium 52, relative atomic mass of Tb Terbium 65, relative atomic mass of Tl Thallium 81, relative atomic mass of Th Thorium 90, relative atomic mass of Tm Thulium 69, relative atomic mass of Sn Tin 50, relative atomic mass of Ti Titanium 22, relative atomic mass of W Tungsten 74, relative atomic mass of U Uranium 92, relative atomic mass of V Vanadium 23, relative atomic mass of Xe Xenon 54, relative atomic mass of Yb Ytterbium 70, relative atomic mass of Y Yttrium 39, relative atomic mass of Zn Zinc 30, relative atomic mass of Zr Zirconium 40

Check out what is available? Study the different examples then try the Quizzes!DEFINING & CALCULATING the RELATIVE ATOMIC MASS Ar of an element

Doc Brown's Chemistry - GCSE/IGCSE/GCE (basic A level) O Level Online Chemical Calculations

1. Defining, explaining and calculating relative atomic mass RAM or Ar, also mention of relative isotopic mass

Index of all my online chemical calculation quizzes

All my GCSE/IGCSE/US grade 8-10 Chemistry Revision notes

Advanced UK A/AS level, IB and US grade 11-12 pre-university chemistry

email doc brown - comment - query?

Use your mobile phone or ipad etc. in 'landscape' orientation

This is a BIG website, you need to take time to explore it [SEARCH BOX]

Sub-index for page

(a) Introduction - defining relative atomic mass - carbon-12 scale - isotopes

(b) How to calculate relative atomic mass - examples explained

(c) How to calculate relative atomic mass with accurate relative isotopic masses

(c) is for advanced level chemistry students only and includes how to work out isotopic composition given the relative atomic mass.

(d) Table of relative atomic masses for elements 1 to 92 (2 decimal places)

Spotted any careless error on my part? EMAIL query ? comment

or request a type of GCSE calculation not covered?

Self-assessment Quizzes on relative atomic mass:

type in answer click me for QUIZ! QUIZ  or  multiple choice click me for QUIZ! QUIZ

study examples carefully1. Explaining and how to calculate the relative atomic mass RAM or Ar of an elementstudy examples carefully

(a) Introduction - defining relative atomic mass - carbon-12 scale

  • Every atom has its own unique relative atomic mass (RAM) based on a standard comparison or relative scale e.g. it has been based on hydrogen H = 1 amu and oxygen O = 16 amu in the past (amu = relative atomic mass unit).
    • The relative atomic mass of an element takes into account the different masses of the isotopes of that element and the abundance of the isotopes in the naturally occurring element (meaning the percentage of each isotope present).
    • Relative atomic mass is defined and explained below, and examples of how to calculate it from data.
  • The relative atomic mass scale is now based on an isotope of carbon, namely, carbon-12, nuclide symbol , which is given the arbitrary value of 12.0000 amu by international agreement.
    • The unit 'amu' is now being replaced by a lower case u, where u is the symbol for the unified atomic mass unit.
      • Therefore one atom of carbon, isotopic mass 12, equals 12 u, or,
      • 1 u = 1/12th the mass of one atom of the carbon-12 isotope.
    • Note that for the standard nuclide notation, , the top left number is the mass number (12) and the bottom left number is the atomic/proton number (6).
  • Since the relative atomic mass of an element is now based on the carbon-12 isotope it can now be defined as ...
    • ... relative atomic mass equals the average mass of all the atoms in an element compared to 1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 atom (carbon-12 isotope).
    • Examples are shown in the Periodic Table diagram above.
    • Note
      • (i) Because of the presence of neutrons in the nucleus, the relative atomic mass is usually at least double the atomic/proton number because there are usually more neutrons than protons in the nucleus (mass proton = 1, neutron = 1). Just scan the periodic table above and examine the pairs of numbers.
        • You should also notice that generally speaking the numerical difference between the atomic/proton number and the relative atomic mass tends to increase with increasing atomic number.
        • This has consequences for nuclear stability.
      • (ii) For many calculation purposes, relative atomic masses are usually quoted and used at this academic level (GCSE/IGCSE/O level) to zero or one decimal place eg.
        • hydrogen H = 1.008 or ~1; calcium Ca = 40.08 or ~40.0; chlorine Cl = 35.45 ~35.5, copper Cu = 63.55 or ~63.5/64, silver Ag = 107.9 or ~108 etc.
      • At Advanced level, values of relative atomic masses may be quoted to one or two decimal places.
        • Many atomic masses are known to an accuracy of four decimal places, but for some elements, isotopic composition varies depending on the mineralogical source, so four decimal places isn't necessarily more accurate!
      • Note that in the case of carbon, there are three isotopes carbon-12 12C the most abundant and small amounts of carbon-13 13C and carbon-14 14C. The average calculated mass of the atoms compared to carbon 12 is 12.01, but for most purposes at pre-university level, 12.0 is sufficient accuracy.
  • In using the symbol Ar for RAM, you should bear in mind that the letter A on its own usually means the mass number of a particular isotope and amu is the acronym shorthand for atomic mass units.
  • However there are complications due to isotopes and so very accurate atomic masses are never whole integer numbers.
  • Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different masses due to different numbers of neutrons.
    • The very accurate relative atomic mass scale is based on a specific isotope of carbon, carbon-12, 12C = 12.0000 units exactly, for most purposes C = 12 is used for simplicity.
    • For example hydrogen-1, hydrogen-2, and hydrogen-3, are the nuclide notation for the three isotopes of hydrogen, though the vast majority of hydrogen atoms have a mass of 1.
    • When their accurate isotopic masses, and their % abundance are taken into account the average accurate relative mass for hydrogen = 1.008, but for most purposes H = 1 is good enough!
    • (c) doc b See also GCSE/IGCSE/AS Atomic Structure Notes
  • Therefore, a stricter definition of relative atomic mass (Ar) is that it equals the average mass of all the isotopic atoms present in the element compared to 1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 atom.
    • AND, the relative isotopic mass of carbon-12 is assigned a numerical value of 12.0000.
    • So, in calculating relative atomic mass you must take into account the different isotopic masses of the same elements, but also their % abundance in the element.
    • Therefore you need to know the percentage (%) of each isotope of an element in order to accurately calculate the element's relative atomic mass.
    • For approximate calculations of relative atomic mass you can just use the mass numbers of the isotopes, which are obviously all integers ('whole numbers'!) e.g. in the two calculations below.
    • To the nearest whole number, isotopic mass = mass number for a specific isotope.
    • If an element only has one isotope, relative atomic mass = relative mass of this isotope.
      • A good example is fluorine.
      • All fluorine atoms have a mass of 19 (19F), therefore its relative atomic mass is 19 and no calculation is needed.

Above is typical periodic table used in GCSE science-chemistry specifications

and I've 'usually' used these values in my exemplar calculations to cover most syllabuses


TOP OF PAGE and sub-index


(b) Examples of relative atomic mass calculations for GCSE 9-1/IGCSE/AS/A level chemistry students

How do I calculate relative atomic mass?

You can calculate relative atomic mass from isotopic abundances

  • For accurate chemical calculations relative atomic mass must be used and not an individual mass number.
    • Therefore relative atomic mass takes into account all the different 'stable' isotopes of an element which are naturally present.
    • The relative atomic mass is the average mass and is quite easily calculated from the percentage composition (% abundance).
    • The presence of isotopes accounts for why some relative atomic masses are not even close to a whole number.
    • Some relative atomic masses are nearly whole numbers due to coincidence of % isotopes, others because one isotope might dominate the composition with only tiny amounts of lighter or heavier isotopes.
  • Example 1.1 Calculating the relative atomic mass of bromine and
    • bromine consists of two isotopes, 50% 79Br and 50% 81Br, calculate the Ar of bromine from the mass numbers (top left numbers).
    • Think of the calculation in terms of '100 atoms'
    • Ar = [ (50 x 79) + (50 x 81) ] /100 = 80
    • So the relative atomic mass of bromine is 80 or RAM or Ar(Br) = 80
    • Note the full working shown. Yes, ok, you can do it in your head BUT many students ignore the %'s and just average all the isotopic masses (mass numbers) given, in this case bromine-79 and bromine-81.
    • The element bromine is the only case I know where averaging the isotopic masses actually works! so beware!
    • -
  • Example 1.2 Calculating the relative atomic mass of chlorine based on the and isotopes
    • Chlorine consists of two isotopes, 75% chlorine-35 and 25% chlorine-37, so using these two mass numbers ...
    • ... again think of the data based on 100 atoms, so 75 have a mass of 35 and 25 atoms have a mass of 37.
    • The average mass = [ (75 x 35) + (25 x 37) ] / 100 = 35.5
    • So the relative atomic mass of chlorine is 35.5 or RAM or Ar(Cl) = 35.5
    • Note: 35Cl and 37Cl are the most common isotopes of chlorine, but, there are tiny percentages of other chlorine isotopes which are usually ignored at GCSE/IGCSE and Advanced GCE AS/A2 A level.
    • -
  • Example 1.3: Calculating the relative atomic mass of copper from its isotopic composition (isotope abundance)
    • Naturally occurring copper consists of 69.2% copper-63 (63Cu) and 30.8% copper-65 (65Cu)
    • Still think in terms of 100 atoms and don't be put off by decimal fractions, it still works out correctly because 69.2 + 30.8 = 100!
    • average mass = relative atomic mass of copper = {(63 x 69.2) + (65 x 30.8)} / 100 = 63.6
    • -
  • Example 1.4: Silver atoms consist of 51.4% of the isotope 107Ag and 48.6% of the isotope 109Ag
    • Calculate the relative atomic mass of silver.
    •     (51.4 x 107) + (48.6 x 109)      5499.8 + 5297.4  
      Ar(Ag) = -------------------------------------- =    --------------------------- = 108.0
          100 100  
    • The relative atomic mass of silver is 108.0 (to 1 decimal place)
    • -
  • Example 1.5: Europium atoms consist of 47.8% Eu-151 and 52.2% of Eu-153
    • Calculate the relative atomic mass of europium.
    •     (47.8 x 151) + (52.2 x 153)      7217.8 + 7986.6  
      Ar(Eu) = -------------------------------------- =    --------------------------- = 152.0
          100 100  
    • The relative atomic mass of europium is 152.0 (to 1 decimal place)
    • -
  • Example 1.6: Atoms of the element silicon consist of 92.2% silicon-28, 4.7% silicon-29 and 3.1% of silicon-30.
    • Calculate the relative atomic mass of silicon.
    •     (92.2 x 28) + (4.7 x 29) + (3.1 x 30)      2581.6 + 136.3 + 93.0  
      Ar(Si) = -------------------------------------------------- =  -------------------------------- = 28.1
          100 100  
    • The relative atomic mass of silicon is 28.1 (to 1 decimal place or 3 significant figures)
    • -
  • See below and mass Spectrometer and isotope analysis on the GCSE-Advanced A Level (basic) Atomic Structure Notes, with further relative atomic mass calculations.



(c) Examples for Advanced A Level Chemistry students only

How to calculate relative atomic mass with accurate relative isotopic masses

Using data from modern very accurate mass spectrometers

(1) Very accurate calculation of relative atomic mass (need to know and define what relative isotopic mass is)

Relative isotopic mass is defined as the accurate mass of a single isotope of an element compared to 1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 atom e.g. the accurate relative isotopic mass of the cobalt-5 is 58.9332

This definition of relative isotopic mass is a completely different from the definition of relative atomic mass, except both are based on the same international standard of atomic mass i.e. 1 unit (1 u) = 1/12th the mass of a carbon-12 isotope (12C).

If we were to redo the calculation of the relative atomic mass of chlorine (example 1.1 above), which is quite adequate for GCSE purposes (and maybe A level too), but more accurately at A level, we might do ....

chlorine is 75.77% 35Cl of isotopic mass 34.9689 and 24.23% 37Cl of isotopic mass 36.9658

so Ar(Cl) = [(75.77 x 34.9689) + (24.23 x 36.9658)] / 100

= 35.4527 (but 35.5 is usually ok in calculations pre-university!)

See also (c) doc b Mass Spectrometer and isotope analysis on the GCSE/A level Atomic Structure Notes, with further RAM calculations.

 

(2) Calculations of % composition of isotopes

It is possible to do the reverse of a relative atomic mass calculation if you know the Ar and which isotopes are present.

It involves a little bit of arithmetical algebra.

The Ar of boron is 10.81 and consists of only two isotopes, boron-10 and boron-11

The relative atomic mass of boron was obtained accurately in the past from chemical analysis of reacting masses but now mass spectrometers can sort out all of the isotopes present and their relative abundance.

If you let X = % of boron 10, then 100-X is equal to % of boron-11

Therefore Ar(B) = (X x 10) + [(100-X) x 11)] / 100 = 10.81

so, 10X -11X +1100 =100 x 10.81

-X + 1100 = 1081, 1100 - 1081 = X (change sides change sign!)

therefore X = 19

so naturally occurring boron consists of 19% 10B and 81% 11B

(the data books actually quote 18.7 and 81.3, but we didn't use the very accurate relative isotopic masses mentioned above!)


TOP OF PAGE and sub-index


On other pages on Atomic structure and Relative Formula Mass

Self-assessment Quizzes on relative atomic mass

type in answer click me for QUIZ! QUIZ  or  multiple choice click me for QUIZ! QUIZ


APPENDIX 1. A typical periodic table used in pre-university examinations

Above is typical periodic table used in GCSE science-chemistry specifications in doing chemical calculations, and I've 'usually' used these values in my exemplar calculations to cover most syllabuses

TOP OF PAGE and sub-index


(d) APPENDIX 2. Table of relative atomic masses for elements 1 to 92

Notes on the relative atomic mass data:

(i) The list of relative atomic mass are in alphabetical order by element name, together with chemical symbol and proton/atomic number from 1 to 92.

(ii) The relative atomic masses are quoted to two decimal places, though it is essential to be aware that values in pre-university examinations might be rounded to the nearest integer or one decimal place.

(iii) Trans-uranium elements have been eliminated because their isotopic composition varies depending on the source e.g. cyclotron, nuclear reactor etc. AND all their isotopes are highly radioactive and most are very unstable (so your relative atomic mass changes all the time!)

(iv) * radioactive, mass number of most stable isotope quoted

Chemical Symbol

Element name

Atomic No. Z

Relative atomic mass
Ac Actinium 89 227.03
Al Aluminium 13 26.98
Sb Antimony 51 121.75
Ar Argon 18 39.95
As Arsenic 33 74.92
At Astatine 85 210 *
Ba Barium 56 137.33
Be Beryllium 4 9.01
Bi Bismuth 83 208.98
B Boron 5 10.81
Br Bromine 35 79.90
Cd Cadmium 48 112.41
Cs Caesium 55 132.91
Ca Calcium 20 40.08
C Carbon 6 12.01
Ce Cerium 58 140.12
Cl Chlorine 17 35.45
Cr Chromium 24 52.00
Co Cobalt 27 58.93
Cu Copper 29 63.55
Dy Dysprosium 66 162.50
Er Erbium 68 167.26
Eu Europium 63 151.97
F Fluorine 9 19.00
Fr Francium 87 223 *
Gd Gadolinium 64 157.25
Ga Gallium 31 69.72
Ge Germanium 32 72.60
Au Gold 79 196.97
Hf Hafnium 72 178.49
He Helium 2 4.00
Ho Holmium 67 164.93
H Hydrogen 1 1.01
In Indium 49 114.82
I Iodine 53 126.90
Ir Iridium 77 192.22
Fe Iron 26 55.85
Kr Krypton 36 83.80
La Lanthanum 57 138.91
Pb Lead 82 207.20
Li Lithium 3 6.94
Lu Lutetium 71 174.97
Mg Magnesium 12 24.31
Mn Manganese 25 54.94
Hg Mercury 80 200.59
       

Chemical Symbol

Element name

Atomic No. Z

Relative atomic mass
Mo Molybdenum 42 95.94
Nd Neodymium 60 144.24
Ne Neon 10 20.18
Ni Nickel 28 58.69
Nb Niobium 41 92.91
N Nitrogen 7 14.01
Os Osmium 76 190.20
O Oxygen 8 16.00
Pd Palladium 46 106.42
P Phosphorus 15 30.97
Pt Platinum 78 195.08
Po Polonium 84 209 *
K Potassium 19 39.10
Pr Praseodymium 59 140.91
Pm Promethium 61 145 *
Pa Protactinium 91 231.04
Ra Radium 88 226.03
Rn Radon 86 222 *
Re Rhenium 75 186.21
Rh Rhodium 45 102.91
Rb Rubidium 37 85.47
Ru Ruthenium 44 101.07
Sm Samarium 62 150.36
Sc Scandium 21 44.96
Se Selenium 34 78.96
Si Silicon 14 28.09
Ag Silver 47 107.87
Na Sodium 11 23.00
Sr Strontium 38 87.62
S Sulfur 16 32.07
Ta Tantalum 73 180.95
Tc Technetium 43 98.91
Te Tellurium 52 127.60
Tb Terbium 65 158.93
Tl Thallium 81 204.38
Th Thorium 90 232.04
Tm Thulium 69 168.93
Sn Tin 50 118.71
Ti Titanium 22 47.88
W Tungsten 74 183.85
U Uranium 92 238.03
V Vanadium 23 50.94
Xe Xenon 54 131.29
Yb Ytterbium 70 173.04
Y Yttrium 39 88.91
Zn Zinc 30 65.39
Zr Zirconium 40 91.22

OTHER CALCULATION PAGES

  1. What is relative atomic mass?, relative isotopic mass & calculating relative atomic mass (this page)

  2. Calculating relative formula/molecular mass of a compound or element molecule

  3. Law of Conservation of Mass and simple reacting mass calculations

  4. Composition by percentage mass of elements in a compound

  5. Empirical formula and formula mass of a compound from reacting masses (easy start, not using moles)

  6. Reacting mass ratio calculations of reactants and products from equations (NOT using moles) and brief mention of actual percent % yield and theoretical yield, atom economy and formula mass determination

  7. Introducing moles: The connection between moles, mass and formula mass - the basis of reacting mole ratio calculations (relating reacting masses and formula mass)

  8. Using moles to calculate empirical formula and deduce molecular formula of a compound/molecule (starting with reacting masses or % composition)

  9. Moles and the molar volume of a gas, Avogadro's Law

  10. Reacting gas volume ratios, Avogadro's Law and Gay-Lussac's Law (ratio of gaseous reactants-products)

  11. Molarity, volumes and solution concentrations (and diagrams of apparatus)

  12. How to do acid-alkali titration calculations, diagrams of apparatus, details of procedures

  13. Electrolysis products calculations (negative cathode and positive anode products)

  14. Other calculations e.g. % purity, % percentage & theoretical yield, dilution of solutions (and diagrams of apparatus), water of crystallisation, quantity of reactants required, atom economy

  15. Energy transfers in physical/chemical changes, exothermic/endothermic reactions

  16. Gas calculations involving PVT relationships, Boyle's and Charles Laws

  17. Radioactivity & half-life calculations including dating materials

    [SEARCH BOX]

keywords and phrases: revision study notes for AQA Edexcel OCR IGCSE/GCSE chemistry science topics modules on Defining relative atomic mass, how to calculate relative atomic mass of element given the relative isotopic mass percentages, calculating isotopic composition given relative atomic mass and isotopic masses practice chemical calculations for IB chemistry AQA Edexcel OCR Salters advanced A level chemistry question exercise on calculating relative atomic mass and isotope composition percentages

KS3 BIOLOGY QUIZZES ~US grades 6-8 KS3 CHEMISTRY QUIZZES ~US grades 6-8 KS3 PHYSICS QUIZZES ~US grades 6-8 HOMEPAGE of Doc Brown's Science Website EMAIL Doc Brown's Science Website
GCSE 9-1 BIOLOGY NOTES GCSE 9-1 CHEMISTRY NOTES and QUIZZES GCSE 9-1 PHYSICS NOTES GCSE 9-1 SCIENCES syllabus-specification help links for biology chemistry physics courses IGCSE & O Level SCIENCES syllabus-specification help links for biology chemistry physics courses
Advanced A/AS Level ORGANIC Chemistry Revision Notes US K12 ~grades 11-12 Advanced A/AS Level INORGANIC Chemistry Revision Notes US K12 ~grades 11-12 Advanced A/AS Level PHYSICAL-THEORETICAL Chemistry Revision Notes US K12 ~grades 11-12 Advanced A/AS Level CHEMISTRY syllabus-specificatio HELP LINKS of my site Doc Brown's Travel Pictures
Website content © Dr Phil Brown 2000+. All copyrights reserved on revision notes, images, quizzes, worksheets etc. Copying of website material is NOT permitted. Exam revision summaries & references to science course specifications are unofficial.

Alphabetical order of the elements of the periodic table symbol name atomic number: relative atomic mass of Ac Actinium 89, relative atomic mass of Al Aluminium 13, relative atomic mass of Sb Antimony 51, relative atomic mass of Ar Argon 18, relative atomic mass of As Arsenic 33, relative atomic mass of At Astatine 85, relative atomic mass of Ba Barium 56, relative atomic mass of Be Beryllium 4, relative atomic mass of Bi Bismuth 83, relative atomic mass of B Boron 5, relative atomic mass of Br Bromine 35, relative atomic mass of Cd Cadmium 48, relative atomic mass of Cs Caesium 55, relative atomic mass of Ca Calcium 20, relative atomic mass of C Carbon 6, relative atomic mass of Ce Cerium

 Doc Brown's Chemistry 

*

TOP OF PAGE and sub-index