atomic weight

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Word: Atomic Weight

Part of Speech: Noun (used in chemistry)

Definition: Atomic weight is the mass of an atom of a chemical element. It is usually measured in atomic mass units (amu). This number helps scientists understand how heavy an atom is compared to other atoms.

Usage Instructions: You can use "atomic weight" when discussing chemistry, especially when talking about elements in the periodic table. It is important for calculations in chemistry, such as determining how substances react with each other.

Example Sentence: - "The atomic weight of carbon is about 12.01 amu, which means a carbon atom is heavier than hydrogen atoms."

Advanced Usage:

• In more advanced contexts, you might use atomic weight to discuss isotopes, which are variations of an element that have different atomic weights due to differing numbers of neutrons.

Different Meanings:

• While "atomic weight" specifically refers to chemistry, it doesn’t have other meanings outside this context. It’s a technical term used primarily in scientific discussions.

Synonyms:

• Atomic mass (though be aware that in strict terms, atomic weight and atomic mass can refer to slightly different concepts).
• Relative atomic mass (used in some scientific contexts).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no idioms or phrasal verbs specifically associated with "atomic weight," as it is a technical term primarily used in scientific language.

Summary:

In summary, atomic weight is an important concept in chemistry that helps us understand the mass of different elements and their atoms.

Academic

Noun

1. (chemistry) the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units

Synonyms

• atomic mass
• relative atomic mass