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Atomic number equals the number of protons, the (atomic) mass number equals the sum of (the number of) protons and neutrons of the same element.

The answer is: they're differing in the number of neutrons

(Mathematically: Where A = p and M = p + n, the difference in A and M is n)

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Q: How do the mass numbers and the atomic numbers of an element differ?
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Does an isotope of an element have a different atomic mass?

Yes; isotopes of the same element have the same atomic number but differ in their atomic masses.


What is the term for atoms of the same element that differ in their mass numbers?

We can find atomic mass and mass number in chemical elements. Atomic mass is about weight of the atom. Mass number is about total of neutrons and protons.


How does the average atomic mass of an element differ from the mass of an individual atom of the same element?

The masses and relative abundances of all naturally occurring isotopes of the element are required to calculate average atomic mass of the element.


Two isotopes of an element have different?

Two isotopes of an element have the same atomic number (number of protons) but have different mass numbers (sum of protons and neutrons). This means that they will differ in the number of neutrons despite being the same element.


Why was basis of classification of element in the periodic table changed from atomic mass to atomic number?

Mendeleev's periodic table was based on the atomic masses of elements. However, this was not effective when isotopes were discovered. An isotope of an element is defined as the element having the same atomic number but varying mass numbers. So, mass numbers weren't constant and hence, a better characteristic was chosen -atomic number. Atomic number of any element was a characteristic of a particular element. Hence atomic numbers were taken as the basis of classification instead of atomic masses.

Related questions

Does an isotope of an element have a different atomic mass?

Yes; isotopes of the same element have the same atomic number but differ in their atomic masses.


Which is the average of the mass numbers of an element's isotopes?

the Atomic Mass


What is the term for atoms of the same element that differ in their mass numbers?

We can find atomic mass and mass number in chemical elements. Atomic mass is about weight of the atom. Mass number is about total of neutrons and protons.


What is the average of the mass numbers of isotopes of an element?

the atomic mass


How does the average atomic mass of an element differ from the mass of an individual atom of the same element?

The masses and relative abundances of all naturally occurring isotopes of the element are required to calculate average atomic mass of the element.


Why are the atomic mass numbers of an element not hole numbers?

Its the average of the weight of the different isotopes of that element.


Do isotopes of an element have the same atomic mass but different atomic number?

The different mass numbers are due to different numbers of neutrons.


Two isotopes of an element have different?

Two isotopes of an element have the same atomic number (number of protons) but have different mass numbers (sum of protons and neutrons). This means that they will differ in the number of neutrons despite being the same element.


What are the atomic numbers and atomic mass of neon?

Neon is a non meta element. Atomic mass of it is 20 Atomic number of it is1 180.


Why was basis of classification of element in the periodic table changed from atomic mass to atomic number?

Mendeleev's periodic table was based on the atomic masses of elements. However, this was not effective when isotopes were discovered. An isotope of an element is defined as the element having the same atomic number but varying mass numbers. So, mass numbers weren't constant and hence, a better characteristic was chosen -atomic number. Atomic number of any element was a characteristic of a particular element. Hence atomic numbers were taken as the basis of classification instead of atomic masses.


What is an element that has the same atomic number but different mass numbers?

If a sample of an element contains atoms of different mass numbers, the name of the element followed by a hyphen and the mass number is the name of an isotope of the element.


How do isotopes differ and why is the atomic number of elements not a whole number?

Isotopes differ from each other by having different numbers of neutrons but the same number of protons since they are only the same element if they have the same number of protons. Atomic numbers aren't whole because their mass is based of the mass of hydrogen and amu's (atomic mass units) and due to how elements are formed, minute amounts of mass are lost in order to form the nuclear bonds resulting in not whole numbers.