Understanding the Periodic Table

Mr. Ferguson from East Millbrook Middle School explains how to read the periodic table to identify subatomic particles such as protons, neutrons, and electrons. He clarifies the concepts of atomic number, atomic mass, and mass number, using examples of elements like oxygen, zinc, and element number three to demonstrate how to calculate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in a neutral atom.

What is the most important information needed to identify an element on the periodic table?

• Atomic number

• Atomic mass

• Mass number

• Element symbol

How is the atomic mass of an element defined?

• The number of protons

• The number of electrons

• The number of neutrons

• The average number of protons and neutrons

What does the mass number represent?

• The number of neutrons

• The number of protons

• The total number of protons and neutrons in a specific isotope

• The number of electrons

In the example of oxygen, what is the atomic number?

• 15

• 16

• 8

• 7

How many neutrons are in the most common isotope of oxygen?

• 9

• 8

• 7

• 6

For a neutral atom, what is the relationship between protons and electrons?

• Protons are more than electrons

• Electrons are more than protons

• Protons equal electrons

• Protons and electrons are unrelated

What is the atomic number of zinc?

• 29

• 31

• 28

• 30

How many neutrons are present in the most common isotope of zinc?

• 45

• 40

• 35

• 30

What is the atomic mass of element number three when rounded to the nearest whole number?

• 9

• 8

• 7

• 6

How many neutrons are in element number three?

• 4

• 5

• 3

• 6