5.1.1.6 Relative Atomic Mass

Question 1

What is the relevant atomic mass of an element?

Answer 1

• average value that takes account of the abundance of the isotopes of the element

Question 2

What do electrons occupy?

Answer 2

• lowest available energy levels (shells closest to the central nucleus)

Question 3

What does the electronic structure of an atom tell you?

Answer 3

• how many electrons are in each shell
• e.g. sodium has an electronic structure of 2,8,1