Carbon-12 is of particular importance in its use as the standard from which atomic masses of all nuclides are measured. Its mass number is 12 by definition and contains 6 protons, 6 neutrons and 6 electrons. read more
Thus, the atomic mass of a carbon-12 atom is 12 u or 12 daltons (Da), but the relative isotopic mass of a carbon-12 atom is simply 12. The atomic mass or relative isotopic mass refers to the mass of a single particle, and therefore is tied to a certain specific isotope of an element. read more
The atomic mass of a single atom is simply its total mass and is typically expressed in atomic mass units or amu. By definition, an atom of carbon with six neutrons, carbon-12, has an atomic mass of 12 amu. read more
Since carbon dioxide has the structure #CO_2# There is one carbon and 2 oxygen so you look to the periodic table to find the atomic mass, which is located under the symbol and name of the element on the periodic table. read more