Understanding Relative Isotopic Mass
I have been trying to understand this idea of Relative Isotopic Mass but all I seem to get is the same old definition regarding the idea of its a comparison of the mass of 1/12th if the mass of a Carbon 12 atom etc etc... But this isn't really helping my understanding of it. Can anyone explain this concept in a slightly more elaborate way?
Original post by mtb_dpr
I have been trying to understand this idea of Relative Isotopic Mass but all I seem to get is the same old definition regarding the idea of its a comparison of the mass of 1/12th if the mass of a Carbon 12 atom etc etc... But this isn't really helping my understanding of it. Can anyone explain this concept in a slightly more elaborate way?
All measurements of any quantity are made relative to an agreed standard so that we can all communicate with each other.
If I say that I'm six foot tall, it makes no sense unless we all know and agree what one foot is.
The same goes for mass and metric measurements of distance and every possible thing.
So, if you want to measure the mass of an atom, you can do it relative to one atom of the isotope carbon 12, which is assigned a value of exactly 12.0000.
The value is then called the relative isotopic mass.
Carbon-12 is the current standard, but it hasn't always been. At different times in history both hydrogen and oxygen isotopes have been used.
The IUPAC agreed to use 12C about 70 years ago.
Original post by mtb_dpr
I have been trying to understand this idea of Relative Isotopic Mass but all I seem to get is the same old definition regarding the idea of its a comparison of the mass of 1/12th if the mass of a Carbon 12 atom etc etc... But this isn't really helping my understanding of it. Can anyone explain this concept in a slightly more elaborate way?
Best way to explain this is that. An atom doesn't have a mass we can measure, so we compare them relative to a given mass. So the basis is carbon-12 and it's given mass is 12. From there any mass of atom is determined in relation to this given mass of 12 of carbon-12.
It's hard to explain even me now at uni the best thing is to try not to understand it because many concepts in chemistry can't be explained easily unless you're at a very high level. I.e degree standard.
Original post by charco
All measurements of any quantity are made relative to an agreed standard so that we can all communicate with each other.
If I say that I'm six foot tall, it makes no sense unless we all know and agree what one foot is.
The same goes for mass and metric measurements of distance and every possible thing.
So, if you want to measure the mass of an atom, you can do it relative to one atom of the isotope carbon 12, which is assigned a value of exactly 12.0000.
The value is then called the relative isotopic mass.
Carbon-12 is the current standard, but it hasn't always been. At different times in history both hydrogen and oxygen isotopes have been used.
The IUPAC agreed to use 12C about 70 years ago.
If I say that I'm six foot tall, it makes no sense unless we all know and agree what one foot is.
The same goes for mass and metric measurements of distance and every possible thing.
So, if you want to measure the mass of an atom, you can do it relative to one atom of the isotope carbon 12, which is assigned a value of exactly 12.0000.
The value is then called the relative isotopic mass.
Carbon-12 is the current standard, but it hasn't always been. At different times in history both hydrogen and oxygen isotopes have been used.
The IUPAC agreed to use 12C about 70 years ago.
Thank you for the help on this, the way you explained it really helped with understanding what this concept is all about, rather than just being told a definition and expected to understand it from that.
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