Atomic & Mass Number

Front

What is the mass number of an atom?

Back

The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Front

If an atom has 10 electrons, how many protons does it have?

Back

An atom is electrically neutral, so it has the same number of protons as electrons. Therefore, it has 10 protons.

Front

How do you calculate the number of neutrons in an atom?

Back

Number of neutrons = Mass number - Atomic number.

Front

What are isotopes?

Back

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Front

What is the atomic number of an element?

Back

The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Front

What is the relationship between mass number and atomic number?

Back

The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons, while the atomic number is just the number of protons.

Front

How many neutrons does Carbon-14 (C-14) have?

Back

C-14 has 8 neutrons (14 mass number - 6 atomic number = 8 neutrons).

Front

What is the significance of the atomic number in the periodic table?

Back

The atomic number determines the position of an element in the periodic table and its chemical properties.

Front

What happens to the mass number if an atom gains a neutron?

Back

The mass number increases by 1.

Front

What is the difference between atomic mass and mass number?

Back

Atomic mass is the weighted average mass of an element's isotopes, while mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in a specific isotope.