How many types of atom can be found in an element?

Answer 1

For a given element, there is only one type of atom. It is the number of protons.

However, A given element my exhibit different isotopes. This is where the Atomic Mass is different because of the different number of neutrons, but the number of protons remains the same.

For ,say Hydrogen , It only contain 1 proton ,but has three different isotopes.

#1 ; protium ; 1 proton , no neutrons, 1 electron ( The commonest isotope)

#2 ; deuterium ; 1 proton , 1 neutron, 1 electron ( Far less common)

#3 ; tritium ; 1 proton, 2 neutrons, 1 electron ( Very rare and radio-active).

However, notice in all three cases the number or protons remains the same, so it remains the same atom.

For a different element there will be a different number of protons, so it is a different atom. e.g. Helium; 2 protons, 2 neutrons, and 2 electrons.

Notice it has 2 neutrons , like tritium, but this does not make it the same element with different atoms.

Answer 2

If it is an element, it contains one type of atom. That is it's own atom.

Answer 3

Well... 1. Unless of course you count isotopes

Answer 4

Two