Why do we use relative atomic mass instead of absolute mass?

Chemistry

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atomic mass, mole concept

Why do we use relative atomic mass instead of absolute mass?

Atoms are so tiny that their real masses are inconvenient to use. So how do chemists deal with this?

Curious Corner

Sep 01, 2025

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Curious Corner

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The absolute mass of a hydrogen atom is about 1.67×10−241.67 × 10^{-24} g, which is too small to handle. To make things simpler, chemists compare masses relative to a standard atom — carbon-12. This leads to the relative atomic mass system, making calculations easier.