why we compare1/12mass of a carbon -12 instead of single carbon-12?why we use 1/12
It coud have been 1/24th mass of C-12 but by taking it to be 1/12th of the mass of carbon-12 ,the relative mass of every element was found to be the whole no. and for hydrogen it was 1 amu that is lightest element when C-12 has mass equal to 12 amu.
To calculate actual mass of an element is relatively tedious and difficult . Thus to calculate the atomic mass ,scientists calculated the relative atomic mass of an element that is atomic mass of an element with respect to the 1/12th of the atomic mass of C-12.
the table below shows relative atomic mass of some common elements :
H 1.007 94
C 12.017
N 14.006 7
O 15.999 4
F 18.998 403 2
Na 22.989 769 28
Mg 24.305 0
Al 26.981 538 6
Si 28.085 5
P 30.973 762
S 32.065
Cl 35.453
K 39.098 3
Ca 40.078