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The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus of chemical elements. All mass numbers are integers.

The atomic weight is not an an integer because is calculated taking in the account the isotopic composition of an element; also the mass excess has a role.

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The Atomic Mass number of oxygen has a decimal value because it accounts for the presence of different isotopes of oxygen in nature. Oxygen has three naturally occurring isotopes: oxygen-16, oxygen-17, and oxygen-18, each with a different mass. The atomic mass number is a weighted average of the masses of these isotopes, leading to a decimal value.

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9mo ago
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Q: Why do atomic mass numbers have decimals for oxygen?
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