How is an average mass different from a weighted average mass?
Answer (3)
With any element, there are a range of isotopes . . . a weighted average mass is used because there exist different isotopes of that element, each of varying mass. A weighted average accounts for the fact that the average mass (that may likely be measured from a random sample of the element) will most likely reflect the average mass of the more abundant isotopes. So the weighted average mass will be most comparable to the more abundant isotopes.
The weighted average mass of the atoms in a **naturally **occurring sample of an element is the average atomic mass, also known as atomic weight.
What is atomic mass?
The average mass of an element's atoms expressed in atomic mass units is known as its **atomic mass **(amu, also known as daltons, D).
The **mass **of each isotope is multiplied by its abundance to produce the atomic mass, which is a weighted average of all the isotopes of that element.
Any element has a variety of** isotopes, **thus to take into consideration the fact that each isotope has a different mass, a weighted average mass is used.
A** weighted average** takes into account the potential that an** element's average mass, **as calculated from a random sample, will most likely coincide with the average mass of its more common isotopes.
The weighted average mass** will therefore be closest to that of the more prevalent isotopes.**
To learn more about Atomic mass, refer to the below link:
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Average mass is a simple mean of different masses without considering their abundance, while weighted average mass accounts for the natural abundance of isotopes in an element. This gives a more accurate representation of the element's atomic mass. The weighted average mass is calculated by multiplying each isotope's mass by its abundance and summing these values.
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