Unified atomic mass unit: Difference between revisions

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Non-SI [[Wikipedia:physical unit|unit]] of mass, defined as 1/12 of the mass of the carbon-12 atom in its ground state.
Non-SI [[Wikipedia:physical unit|unit]] of mass, defined as 1/12 of the mass of the carbon-12 atom in its ground state.
The '''unified atomic mass unit''' has the symbol '''u''' and is not widely used in mass spectrometry, partly because of the clumsy name "unified atomic mass unit" which gets even worse when used with a [[Wikipedia:SI prefix|SI prefix]], e.g. "kilo unified atomic mass unit".
The name '''unified atomic mass unit''' and its symbol '''u''' are not widely used in mass spectrometry, partly because of the clumsy name "unified atomic mass unit" which gets even worse when used with a [[Wikipedia:SI prefix|SI prefix]], e.g. "kilo unified atomic mass unit".
Therefore it is recomendet to use the supplementary term [[Dalton]]. The Dalton is defined as
Therefore it is recomendet to use the supplementary name [[Dalton]]. The Dalton is defined as
: 1 '''Da'''  =  1 '''u'''  =  1.660 5402(10) x 10<sup>??????????????????????????27</sup> '''kg'''  =  1/12 m(<sup>12</sup>C).
: 1 '''Da'''  =  1 '''u'''  =  1.660 5402(10) x 10<sup>??????????????????????????27</sup> '''kg'''  =  1/12 m(<sup>12</sup>C).



Revision as of 15:15, 3 January 2005

Orange Book Entry

This unit (u) is based on the standard that the mass of 12C is exactly 12 u. The older symbol, amu, using the standard based on the mass of 16O is no longer recommended. In biochemistry the term dalton, symbol Da, is sometimes used but is not here recommended.

Gold Book Entry

unified atomic mass unit

Non-SI unit of mass (equal to the atomic mass constant), defined as one twelfth of the mass of a carbon-12 atom in its ground state and used to express masses of atomic particles, u = 1.660 5402(10) x 10??????????????????????????27 kg.

IUPAC

Proposed New Entry

Non-SI unit of mass, defined as 1/12 of the mass of the carbon-12 atom in its ground state. The name unified atomic mass unit and its symbol u are not widely used in mass spectrometry, partly because of the clumsy name "unified atomic mass unit" which gets even worse when used with a SI prefix, e.g. "kilo unified atomic mass unit". Therefore it is recomendet to use the supplementary name Dalton. The Dalton is defined as

1 Da = 1 u = 1.660 5402(10) x 10??????????????????????????27 kg = 1/12 m(12C).

The dalton already is widely used in bio mass spec.

External Links

Wikipedia:Atomic mass