Noun
(chemistry) the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units
Source: WordNetFor example, the relative atomic mass of chlorine is 35.453 u, which differs greatly from a whole number due to being made of an average of 76% chlorine-35 and 24% chlorine-37. Source: Internet
Its isotopic composition would be measured with a mass spectrometer to determine its average relative atomic mass. Source: Internet
The two stable isotopes are 35 Cl (75.77%) and 37 Cl (24.23%). citation Together they give chlorine a relative atomic mass of 35.4527 g/mol. Source: Internet
Whenever a relative atomic mass value differs by more than 1% from a whole number, it is due to this averaging effect resulting from significant amounts of more than one isotope being naturally present in the sample of the element in question. Source: Internet