Instructional Video

Average Atomic Mass: Why Are There Decimals on the Periodic Table?

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

How do you count half of a neutron? Solve the mystery of those awkward atomic masses that contain decimals with a video from JFR Science. The narrator shows viewers how to calculate the average atomic mass using the relative abundances of an element's isotopes.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Additional Tags
Instructional Ideas
  • Ask pupils to hypothesize about the decimals on the periodic table before showing the video
  • Have the class practice weighted average calculations after the video
Classroom Considerations
  • The resource requires little prior knowledge of the periodic table and is meant for beginning chemistry 
  • This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
  • Teachers can pause the video when the narrator poses a question to stimulate a class discussion
  • The content is perfect for individual study
Cons
  • None
Common Core