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The atomic number or z number or the number of protons is what makes one atom different from another. The atomic number or z number or the number of protons is what makes one atom different from another.

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What sets an atom of one element apart from the atoms of all other elements?

The number of protons in the atom's nucleus, known as the atomic number, differentiates an atom of one element from another. Each element has a unique atomic number, which determines its chemical properties and place on the periodic table.


Why is an iron atom a different element than a sodium atom?

An iron atom is a different element than a sodium atom because it has a different ground state electron configuration. In fact, any atom that differs from any other atom in ground state electron configuration is a different element.


Atoms of the same element can differ in?

An atom is made of 3 key componants, proton, neutron and electron. Different amounts of protons in the atom make it a different element, e.g carbon 12 is an element with 12 protons AND neutrons, so 6 protons and 6 neutrons. So if a proton is added to an atom, it creates a different type of atom....but.....if another Neutron is added, for example, making carbon 12-->carbon 14 by adding 2 neutrons, this makes it an isotope of carbon, as carbon would normally be found as carbon 12. So an isotope is an atom with an unnatural amount of neutrons within it.


What happens when you add or remove protons in an atom?

Adding or removing protons in an atom changes the element itself, as the number of protons determines the atomic number. Adding a proton creates a new element, while removing a proton changes the atom into a different element. This process also affects the overall charge of the atom, as the number of protons affects the balance of positive charges in the nucleus.


What kind of reaction can change one element into another?

Alpha decay is a kind of radioactive decay in which an alpha particle is emitted from an atom. An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons. Therefore, when an atom of an element undergoes alpha decay, it loses two protons, which changes the atom from one element to another. This is because each different element is identified by the number of protons in its atomic nuclei.

Related Questions

What makes one elemtn different from another?

The atoms of each element have a number of protons that is unique to each element. The number of protons makes one atom different from another.


What makes element different from one another?

The atoms of each element have a number of protons that is unique to each element. The number of protons makes one atom different from another.


How Difference atom and element?

atom and elements are different because one atom makes an element and a element is a pure substance and a atom is a basic particle


What is the element in hydrogen?

Hydrogen is an element, there will be atom that makes up an element and not element that will turn into another.


How are atoms and elements different?

atom and elements are different because one atom makes an element and a element is a pure substance and a atom is a basic particle


What number can be different and allow the atom to still be the same element?

the number of electrons can be different; it makes the element become an ion.


What are elements and what make them different from one another?

Elements are pure substances that cannot be broken down by chemical means. The atoms of each element have a number of protons that is unique to each element. The number of protons makes one atom different from another.


What part of an element atom makes it different from other element?

Its protons. The atom changes depending on how many protons it has. See also atomic number.


What is amount of protons found in the nucleus of an atom?

Every different element has a different number of protons, that is what differentiates it from another element, so there is no answer to your question until you specify which atom you're talking about.


What is the term for an atom of the same element that has different atomic masses?

Atomsof the same element that have different atomic massesare isotopes of one another.


What makes each element different from the previous one?

The previous element in the periodic system (by ordered atom number) has ONE proton and one electron LESS per atom


What did Henry moseley discover about the atom?

He found that atoms of each element contain a unique positive charge in their nucleus. This discovery helped to solve the mystery of what makes the atoms of one element different from those of another: An atom's identity comes from the number of protons in its nucleus.