Atomic Structure and Isotopes
Your atom consists of a dense nucleus containing protons and neutrons, with electrons orbiting in shells around it. Protons have +1 charge and mass 1, electrons have -1 charge but almost no mass (1/1836), while neutrons are neutral with mass 1.
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons. Carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14 all have 6 protons and 6 electrons, but 6, 7, and 8 neutrons respectively. When atoms lose or gain electrons, they become ions with different charges.
Relative atomic mass is the weighted average of all isotopes compared to 1/12th the mass of carbon-12. From mass spectra, you can calculate this using: abundance×massA+abundance×massB ÷ total abundance. For chlorine with 75% Cl-35 and 25% Cl-37: (75×35 + 25×37) ÷ 100 = 35.5.
Quick check: Mass number = protons + neutrons, atomic number = protons only!