What is calcium atomic mass?

The atomic mass of calcium is approximately 40.08 atomic mass units (amu). This value is derived from the weighted average of the masses of all naturally occurring isotopes of calcium. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei.

Calcium has six naturally occurring isotopes, which are calcium-40, calcium-42, calcium-43, calcium-44, calcium-46, and calcium-48. Among these isotopes, calcium-40 is the most abundant, accounting for over 96% of naturally occurring calcium.

The atomic mass of calcium is determined by multiplying the mass of each isotope by its respective abundance and summing them up. This calculation yields an atomic mass value close to 40.08 amu.

The atomic mass of calcium is an important property as it allows scientists to accurately determine the number of calcium atoms present in a given sample. It is also significant in stoichiometry calculations, where the atomic masses of various elements are used to calculate the molecular or formula weights of compounds.