How is the relative atomic mass (RAM) of an element calculated?

The relative atomic mass (RAM) of an element is calculated by taking the weighted average of the masses of its isotopes. This involves considering both the mass and the natural abundance of each isotope present. Each isotope has its own atomic mass, which is measured in atomic mass units (amu), and its abundance is expressed as a percentage or fraction of the total. By multiplying each isotope's mass by its relative abundance and summing those values, one arrives at the overall average mass, reflecting the isotopic composition of the element as it occurs in nature.

This method accurately represents the RAM because it accounts for all isotopes of the element, not just the most abundant one. Instead of simply averaging raw atomic masses or summing them without considering abundance, which would provide misleading results, the weighted average aligns more closely with the observed mass of the element in a sample. Hence, RAM is a more comprehensive measure, crucial for accurate calculations in various chemical applications.