What is the mass (in amu and in grams) of a single atom of Carbon-12?

The atomic mass unit (amu) is a standard unit of mass that quantifies mass on an atomic or molecular scale. It is defined as one twelfth of the mass of a carbon-12 atom, which is approximately 1.66 x 10^-27 kilograms. This unit allows chemists to express the mass of atoms and molecules in a more manageable way, facilitating comparisons and calculations in chemistry.

Carbon-12 is one of the most common isotopes of carbon, consisting of 6 protons and 6 neutrons in its nucleus. It has an atomic mass of exactly 12 amu by definition, making it a reference point for measuring atomic masses of other elements. Understanding isotopes is crucial in chemistry as they can have different physical properties and applications, such as in radiocarbon dating.

To convert atomic mass units (amu) to grams, one can use the conversion factor where 1 amu is equivalent to 1.66 x 10^-24 grams. This relationship is essential for translating atomic-scale measurements into macroscopic quantities that can be used in laboratory settings. For example, knowing the mass of a single atom in grams allows chemists to calculate the amount of substance in larger quantities.