Isotopes are really interesting when we talk about atoms! They help us understand atomic mass better. Let’s take a closer look.

1. What Are Isotopes?
   Isotopes are types of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This difference gives them different mass numbers. For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are two isotopes of carbon.

2. How Do We Calculate Atomic Mass?
   The atomic mass of an element isn’t just a simple average. It takes into account how common each isotope is. Here’s how it works:

   • Carbon-12 (which makes up 98.89% of isotopes) has a mass of 12 amu.
   • Carbon-14 (which makes up only 1.11% of isotopes) has a mass of 14 amu.

   So, to find the atomic mass, we use this formula:

   $\text{Atomic Mass} = (0.9889 \times 12) + (0.0111 \times 14)$

3. Why Are Isotopes Important?
   Knowing about isotopes is really important in areas like medicine, archaeology, and environmental science. For example, scientists use carbon dating to find out how old ancient materials are by looking at the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12.

So, isotopes not only help us figure out atomic mass but also play a big role in many parts of our lives and in scientific discoveries!