The atomic mass of chromium, rounded to the nearest whole number, is 52.
Understanding Atomic Mass
Atomic mass represents the average mass of atoms of an element, taking into account the abundance of its naturally occurring isotopes. While the actual atomic mass is often a decimal number, for many practical applications, especially in introductory chemistry, it is common to use a rounded whole number, also known as the mass number or atomic weight rounded to the nearest integer.
Chromium's Atomic Mass
Chromium (Cr), with atomic number 24, has a precise atomic mass that reflects its isotopic composition.
Here is the precise atomic mass for chromium and surrounding elements:
| ATOMIC NUMBER | ELEMENT | ATOMIC MASS (amu) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Scandium | 44.956 |
| 22 | Titanium | 47.867 |
| 23 | Vanadium | 50.942 |
| 24 | Chromium | 51.996 |
Rounding to the Nearest Whole Number
To find the atomic mass of chromium in a whole number, we round its exact atomic mass (51.996) to the nearest integer.
- The first decimal place is 9, which is 5 or greater.
- Therefore, we round up the whole number part.
51.996 rounds up to 52.
This whole number atomic mass is often used in calculations where a high degree of precision is not required, simplifying stoichiometric calculations and estimations of molar masses.
