When we talk about neutrons and atomic mass, it’s really interesting how they work together in atoms. Let’s break it down:

1. Atomic Mass: Atomic mass is like an average of all the different forms of an element called isotopes. It mainly focuses on the mass of protons and neutrons. Protons and neutrons are heavy, while electrons are so light that they don't really change the total mass.

2. Neutron Contribution: Neutrons add weight to the atomic mass too. Their mass is almost the same as protons. So, when you look at an element, you can find the atomic mass number by adding the number of protons and neutrons together. Here’s the simple formula: $\text{Atomic Mass Number} = \text{Number of Protons} + \text{Number of Neutrons}$

3. Isotopes: Isotopes are different versions of the same element. They have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This means their atomic masses are different. That’s why the atomic mass you see on the periodic table often has a decimal point – it shows the average of those isotopes.

In short, neutrons are very important for figuring out an element's atomic mass. Knowing how they work helps us understand more about how atoms are built in chemistry!