The atomic mass of an atom is commonly calculated by adding the number of protons and neutrons housed within the nucleus of that atom. The mass of electrons is overlooked when calculating the atomic mass of an atom because the mass of electrons is minuscule when compared to the mass of a proton or neutron. The mass of protons and neutrons is thought to be 1.66 x 10-24 grams, which is equivalent to a relative mass of 1 amu (atomic mass unit). Comparatively, the mass of an electron is 9.11 x 10-28 grams, or .0005 amu.
The scientific definition of atomic mass is the mass of an atomic particle. The standard unit for atomic mass is the atomic mass unit (amu). An atomic mass unit is defined as 1/12 of a single carbon-12 atom.
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