If atomic weight and atomic mass are different, why does the periodic table list the atomic mass as if it was the atomic weight?

Question

I’m so confused with these two. I know they are different terms but the periodic table shows atomic mass when to my understanding it should be the atomic weight because it’s taking into account their isotopes

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

The terms are often used interchangeably and arguably context is the only functional differentiation in my experience, but I think the periodic table displays what should be called the atomic weight (the weighted average of the atomic mass of all natural isotopes of that element) and atomic mass is specifically the mass of a single atom.

For example, carbon has an atomic weight of 12.0107 (from memory, might be off a bit) and a carbon-6 atom has an atomic mass of 12.

Source; Masters degree in Chemistry, albeit over a decade ago now