Question

What does the abbreviation 'amu' stand for?

• A. american money unit
• B. atomic mass unit
• C. atomic mole unit
• D. atomic measuring unit

Answer 1

The correct option is B

atomic mass unit

According to IUPAC recommendations, the mass of an atom was defined as 'amu' (atomic mass unit). Its the one twelfth of a Carbon-12 atom. As the mass of sub-atomic particles is less, we need a unit which is comparable to the mass of the sub-atomic particles. 1 amu is the mass of one protron which is equal to $1.67\times {10}^{-27}$ kg.