Isotopes, Ions and Average Atomic Mass

Front

What is an isotope?

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, which determines the element's identity.

Front

How is average atomic mass calculated?

Back

Average atomic mass is calculated by taking the weighted average of the masses of an element's isotopes based on their natural abundance.

Front

What do carbon-12 and carbon-14 have in common?

Back

They have the same number of protons (6 protons) but different numbers of neutrons.

Front

What is the difference between an ion and an isotope?

Back

An ion is an atom that has gained or lost electrons, resulting in a charge, while an isotope is an atom with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Front

What is the mass number of an atom?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of the average atomic mass on the periodic table?

Back

The average atomic mass represents the weighted average of all the isotopes of an element, reflecting their relative abundances.

Front

How many protons does a hydrogen atom have?

Back

A hydrogen atom has 1 proton.

Front

What happens to the atomic mass of an element if it has more neutrons?

Back

If an element has more neutrons, its atomic mass increases.

Front

What is a cation?

Back

A cation is a positively charged ion that has lost one or more electrons.