Monday 6 June 2011

How Atomic Mass is Measured

Masses of atoms are measured by a mass spectrometer. Mass Spectrometry is the process of sending ionized vapors throughan electromagnetic field that seperates the ions relative to their mass-to-charge ratio. The ions are then detected and compared to the mass spectrum. Elements  seen on the Periodic Table are not simply the mass of that certain element but a weighted average of their Isotopes which will be discuessed later in this page.The atomic mass of an element is a weighted average of its isotopic masses.

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