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Why is the atomic number used to identify atoms instead of atomic mass?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Atomic Number is the number of protons in the nucleus. It is also the number of electrons the atom has. It is the number of electrons that determines the chemical behavoir of the atom. Mass number is the number of Protons and Neutrons the nucleus has. Neutrons have no effect on the electron number and therefore on the atom's chemical behavoir. So atoms with the same Atomic Number and different Mass Number all have the same chemical properties. This then is a usefull way to define an "element". Atoms with different Atomic Numbers will have very different chemical properties, regardless if their Mass Numbers are equal or not so it would not be very usefull to call two atoms with different chemical properties the same element.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoDifferent elements may have the same number of nucleons, but no two elements will have the same number of protons, hence the atomic number is most reliable when it comes to identifying an element.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoAtomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom and is the same for all atoms of the same element. The elements are arranged in increasing order of atomic number on the periodic table. Atomic Mass is the mass of an atom and can vary within atoms of the same element. This is because the number of neutrons can vary for atoms of the same element. So, long story made short, atomic number does not vary for an element, but atomic mass can.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThe atomic number of an element is the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, which is the same as the number of electrons when the atom is neutral. The number and configuration of an atom's electrons are what determines most of an element's chemical and physical properties. Variations in the atomic mass of an element are due to varying number of neutrons. Since neutrons are not electrically charged they have no influence on electrons and so have little effect on an element's properties.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoAdd your answer:
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Form a atomic number of 15 atoms?
Atomic number is the number of protons in an atom, not the number of atoms. The element with the atomic number 15 is phosphorus.
Does oxygen have the same number of atoms as a NE?
No. The atomic number ( number of atoms) for oxygen is 8. The atomic number for NE (neon) is 10. :)
Can All carbon atoms have the same atomic number?
Yes, all carbon atoms have the same atomic number, and that is 6.
Can you identify an atom without knowing number of neutrons in it?
Yes, and in order to find the Number of Neutrons, subtract Atomic Mass from Number Of Protons, the result will be the Number of Neutrons for that atom *No. Of Neutron=Atomic Mass - Number Of Protons
What are the atomic number and mass of the animals?
Animals are not atoms and have neither an atomic number nor an atomic mass.
What is the name of the number used to identify atoms of elements?
The atomic number.
How do you identify an atom?
- Atomic number is equal to the number of protons - Atomic number is equal to the number of electrons (in a neutral atom) - Atomic number is the number of a chemical element in the periodic table of Mendeleev
Form a atomic number of 15 atoms?
Atomic number is the number of protons in an atom, not the number of atoms. The element with the atomic number 15 is phosphorus.
An atoms atomic number is the number of what in its nucleus?
atomic number
What is the atomic number of atoms?
how do you find the atomic number for an element?
How does the atomic number identify the atoms of a particular element?
The atomic number of an element is unique to that element. The atomic number is equal to the amount of electrons in one atom of that element. As each element categorically has it's own amount of electrons, you can identify an element from this number.
Is the atomic number the number of atoms it has?
The atomic number is equal to the number of protons.
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom used for identifying an element?
Yes, the number of protons is always used to identify an element. This is also known as its atomic number.
How do you you work out the number of neutrons in an atom?
Atomic Mass minus atomic number
Which number is the atomic number?
the number of protons in an atoms nucleus is called atomic number
Does oxygen have the same number of atoms as a NE?
No. The atomic number ( number of atoms) for oxygen is 8. The atomic number for NE (neon) is 10. :)
What is number of protons of an atom is the atoms atomic number?
The number of protons in the atomic nucleus is equal to atomic number.
