Why is the atomic mass of oxygen 15.999?

Subject: Why is the atomic mass of oxygen 15.999?

Date: Sat Apr 8 08:14:36 2006
Posted by David
Grade level: undergrad School: No school entered.
City: No city entered. State/Province: No state entered. Country: No country entered.
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 1144509276.Ch

Message:


If atomic mass is the weighted average of naturally occurring isotopes, and 
oxygen's isotopes are O-16, O-17 and O-18, how is it that oxygen has a mass 
less than the lightest isotope?

Re: Why is the atomic mass of oxygen 15.999?

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