answersLogoWhite

0

The atomic number refers to the number of protons in the atom. Since the proton cannot be an in-between number, the atomic number will have to be a whole number.

On the other hand, the Atomic Mass does not have to be a whole number because it is the mass of an atom and is roughly equivalent to the number of protons plus the average number of neutrons in that particular element.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

What is the atomic number of 6?

Carbon is a non meta element. Atomic number of it is 6.


What is an element's atomic mass not listed as a whole number on the periodic table?

Few elements have isotopes. their atomic mass is not a whole number.


What number is the whole number found in the periodic table?

There are two numbers that are included in every element's block on every periodic table. The whole number, which can range from 1 - 118 is the atomic number of that element. The atomic number is the number of protons in the nuclei of the atoms of that element. The second number is the atomic weight and is never a whole number, except for the artificially prepared elements, and then it is a whole number written inside parentheses.There may be other numbers listed as well, depending on the periodic table. All periodic tables have a key as to what everything inside each block represents.


Why carbon is the only element with a relative atomic number which is a whole number?

Carbon has an atomic number of 6 because it has 6 protons in its nucleus. The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, which is a fundamental property of each element. In the case of carbon, its atomic number is a whole number because it has a specific and precise number of protons.


The difference between the atomic number of an element and its atomic mass?

The atomic number of an element represents the number of protons in its nucleus, which determines its position on the periodic table and its chemical properties. The atomic mass (or atomic weight) of an element reflects the average mass of its isotopes, considering both protons and neutrons. In general, the atomic number is a whole number without units, while atomic mass is usually expressed in atomic mass units (amu).

Related Questions

What element has the atomic number for 3.14?

No element has this atomic number. All atomic numbers are whole numbers.


What is the atomic number of 6?

Carbon is a non meta element. Atomic number of it is 6.


What is the atomic number of an element represented by the diagrams?

The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in its nucleus. It is represented by the whole number above the element's symbol in the periodic table.


What do whole numbers on the periodic table represent?

The whole number, the one at the top, above the element's symbol in the element box, is the atomic number. The atomic number is the number of protons per atom in that particular element. The bottom number, that is always a decimal, is the atomic mass.


Is the atomic mass of an element is always a whole number of atomic mass untis?

No.


What is an element's atomic mass not listed as a whole number on the periodic table?

Few elements have isotopes. their atomic mass is not a whole number.


How do you calculate average atomic number of an element?

There is no average atomic number. The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nuclei of its atoms. It is a whole and finite number. The elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number on the periodic table.


What tells you the number of protons in the nucleus?

The atomic number of an element tells you the number of protons in the nucleus. It is the whole number found above the element symbol in the periodic table. Each element has a unique atomic number that corresponds to the number of protons in its nucleus.


Which number in an element box on the periodic table is the atomic number?

The atomic number is the whole number indicating the number of protons. It is usually directly above or below the element symbol.


Why at atomic number not whole number in most case?

The question is based on an ignorance of what an atomic number is. It represents the number of protons in an atom of the element and is always, ALWAYS a whole number.


What number is the whole number found in the periodic table?

There are two numbers that are included in every element's block on every periodic table. The whole number, which can range from 1 - 118 is the atomic number of that element. The atomic number is the number of protons in the nuclei of the atoms of that element. The second number is the atomic weight and is never a whole number, except for the artificially prepared elements, and then it is a whole number written inside parentheses.There may be other numbers listed as well, depending on the periodic table. All periodic tables have a key as to what everything inside each block represents.


Why carbon is the only element with a relative atomic number which is a whole number?

Carbon has an atomic number of 6 because it has 6 protons in its nucleus. The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, which is a fundamental property of each element. In the case of carbon, its atomic number is a whole number because it has a specific and precise number of protons.