Quiz Champion

What is the atomic mass of Carbon?

  • 16
  • 14
  • 12
  • 10
Explanation

The atomic mass of carbon is 12 because it is the weighted average of the masses of its naturally occurring isotopes. Carbon has three isotopes: carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14. The most abundant isotope, carbon-12, has a mass of exactly 12 atomic mass units (amu). Carbon-13 has a slightly higher mass, while carbon-14 has a higher mass due to its two extra neutrons. As the atomic mass is calculated based on the relative abundance of each isotope, and carbon-12 is the most abundant, the average atomic mass of carbon is rounded to 12 amu.