The mass given on the periodic table is the weighted average of the abundance of isotopes. Because heavier isotopes (more neutrons) of argon are more abundant than potassiums, by pure statistics, argon will appear with a greater mass on the periodic table.
Similarly, is argon heavier than potassium? Roughly speaking the relative atomic mass increases linearly with the number of protons – but notice that argon is unusual. It is heavier than the element with one more proton – potassium.
Likewise, what is atomic mass of argon?
39.948 u
Why does argon come before potassium?
Argon (atomic mass=39.94) has been placed before potassium (atomic mass=39.10) in the periodic table. Argon atomic mass is more than potassium but still it is placed before potassium because periodic table is based on atomic number. Atomic number of Ar is 18 and that of K is 19 so, K comes after than Ar.
