Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
amu
noun
ˈeɪˌɛmˈjuː
Definition
A unit of mass used to express atomic and molecular weights.
Examples
- The mass of a proton is approximately 1.007 amu.
- Carbon-14 has an atomic weight of about 14 amu.
- When calculating molecular weights, chemists often use amu as a convenient unit.
Meaning
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 an unbound atom of carbon-12 in its nuclear and electronic ground state.
Synonyms
- Dalton
- Unified atomic mass unit
