The u (amu is the old unit name) is 1/12 of the weight of an 12C atom. The way the u is chosen ensures that all core and atom masses are multiples of 1(±0.1) u.
Explanation:
Further explanation if needed...
Carbon 12 was chosen because the chemical atomic weights based on C12 are almost identical to the chemical atomic weights based on the natural mix of oxygen. Simply because the atomic mass is defined as 1/12 of the mass of 12C. Others isotopes of carbon (13C mostly, with an abundance of 1.1% approximately) account for an average atomic mass slightly above 12.
