The atomic mass unit (amu) is defined as 1/12th of the mass of a carbon-12 atom. It is a unit of measurement used to express the relative masses of atoms and molecules.
1 amu is equivalent to approximately 1.6605 x 10^-24 grams. This value is also known as the molar mass constant (Mu).
The amu is used as a unit of mass for atoms because it allows for a more convenient way to express the extremely small masses of individual atoms. It is also directly related to the mass of a carbon-12 atom, which is a commonly used reference point in chemistry.
No, the atomic mass unit (amu) is not a SI unit. The International System of Units (SI) defines the kilogram as the base unit for mass. However, the amu is still widely used in chemistry and physics as a convenient unit for expressing atomic and molecular masses.
The amu is a relative unit of measurement and is not tied to the mass of a specific isotope. However, the mass of a specific isotope can be calculated by multiplying the atomic mass unit (amu) by the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of the atom.