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How is the mass number different from the atomic number of an atom?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Atomic number of an element is the number of protons that an atom of an element contains. The atomic weight (the mass of the atom) is measured by not only the mass of the proton(s), but by the mass of the nuetrons and electrons too.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe atomic number indicates the number of protons in an atom's nucleus. The atomic number for a given element doesn't change (without changing the identity of the element). For example, six protons in a nucleus means the atomic number is six, which corresponds to carbon.
The Atomic Mass has to do with how much the actual atom weighs. The atomic mass is roughly expressed as the sum of all protons and neutrons in the atom's nucleus. The mass of electrons are so small that they are negligible. The number printed on the Periodic Table is not a simple integer for primarily one reason: elements exist in different isotopes.
Isotopes are atoms that have the same atomic number but different atomic masses, and thus differ only in number of neutrons. In nature elements exist as a mixture of various isotopes in different abundances. The mass on the periodic table is a weighted average of the mass of all isotopes. Sometimes, for synthetic and/or unstable elements, the approximate mass or the mass of the most stable isotope is given.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago1. The atomic number is equal to the number of protons in the atomic nucleus (or the number of electrons in a neutral atom) of a chemical element.
2. The mass number is a sum: NUMBER OF PROTONS + NUMBER OF NEUTRONS in the atomic nucleus of an isotope.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe atomic number is the number of protons. The mass number is the number of protons PLUS the number of neutrons. The mass number is always bigger than the proton number (except in hydrogen) because neutrons have a mass of 1 derived unit, as do protons. The difference with hydrogen, is that they have no neutrons, so the atomic and mass number are the same.
Hope that helped!
Wiki User
∙ 12y agomass includes both protons and neutrons.
number includes only protons
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoThe atomic mass is the actual mass (and is a real number; that is, it can have a fractional part). The atomic number is the number of protons (and is an integer).
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What do you get if you subtract the atomic number from the mass number for a particular atom?
mass no - atomic no = number of neutrons in an atom.
How is the atomic number and mass number different?
The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of any given element. The mass number is the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of an isotope of an element.
If an atom has an atomic number of 8 and a mass of 18 how many protrons are in the atom?
It has 8 protons. The atomic number of an atom = the number of protons. The mass number is not needed in this problem. The mass number is the number of protons + number of neutrons.
Can an atom of two different elements have the same mass number?
Yes. The mass number is basic to the different elements, even more useful than the atomic number. (Unless it is an isotope. Isotopes have a different amount of neutrons than the basic element atom which makes a difference in mass number too. So, a difference in mass numbers doesn't always mean it is a different element.)
How do you know the number of neutrons an atom has?
You subtract the atomic number from the mass number.
How are the atomic mass and the atomic number different?
the atomic mass is the number of protons and neutrons in an atom of an element and the atomic number is the number of protons of an atom of an element.
Why atomic mass is different from the mass numbers?
atomic mass is the number of protons in an atom mass number is the number of protons plus neutrons in an atom
What is an atomic mass number?
Atomic mass and atomic number are two different things. Atomic mass is the mass of an atom compared to that of hydrogen. The atomic number is the atom's position in the periodic table. It's also the number of protons it has.
What is the atom with same atomic number but different mass number?
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 has a different mass number than the normal atom?
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 atomic mass of and atom?
the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.
What is the number of neutrons in an atom affects the atomic what?
The number of neutrons in an atom can affect the atomic mass of an atom.
How is the mass number different from the average atomic mass?
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 many protons and neutrons are in the nucleus of the atom?
No it is not the atomic number. We call it mass number.
What is ment by the atomic mass of an atom?
the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.
What does the atomic mass of atom state?
the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.
What does the atomic mass of an atom represent?
the mass of an atom of a chemical element expressed in atomic mass units. It is approximately equivalent to the number of protons and neutrons in the atom (the mass number) or to the average number allowing for the relative abundances of different isotopes.
