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Why is the atomic mass of an element not a whole numbers while the atomic number is?
Before I begin, you must understand that atomic number means the number of protons in the atom, and that the number of protons determines what element an atom is, i.e. an atom with 13 protons will always be aluminum, and one with 16 protons will always be sulfur. So, if you could somehow take away 3 protons from a sulfur atom, it would become aluminum. When the Atomic Mass of an element is shown with decimal places, this is an average of all the possible atomic masses that that element could have. Each element may have more than one atomic mass due to things called isotopes. These are not complicated - an isotope is just a version of an atom with a different number of neutrons in the nucleus than another version (isotope).
Remember that if the number of neutrons changes, the element will not change, as it is the number of protons that determines the element. Therefore, there can be multiple versions (isotopes) of the same element, with the same amount of protons, but with different numbers of neutrons. So, for example, the sodium atom, which will always have 11 protons in an atom (this is what makes it sodium), has 20 possible different isotopes (versions) ranging from 7 to 26 neutrons in each.
Therefore, you cannot work out a single atomic mass. It could be anywhere between 18 (11+7) and 37 (11+26) (here I am adding the constant proton (atomic) number of sodium to the highest and lowest possible neutron numbers to make two possible atomic masses). However, there will be many other possibilities for each neutron number in between 7 and 26. So, because of all these possibilities, the mean (average) is taken of all the possible atomic masses, which is often a decimal. This gives the best result which supports the many different isotopes available for a single element.
What else can I help you with?
What can an element's atomic number tell you about its state of matter?
An element's atomic number tells you the number of protons in the nucleus of its atoms. This, in turn, can help predict its state of matter at room temperature. Elements with low atomic numbers are typically gases, while those with higher atomic numbers are solids or liquids.
In the periodic table which two properties of an element are usually given as numbers?
The atomic number and atomic mass are the two properties of an element that are usually given as numbers in the periodic table. The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, while the atomic mass represents the average mass of an atom of that element, taking into account the different isotopes and their abundance.
Isotopes of the same element have differnt?
Isotopes of the same element have different numbers of neutrons in their atomic nuclei. This results in isotopes having slightly different atomic masses while maintaining the same number of protons (which determines the element's identity).
How are the atomic mass and the atomic number different?
The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, while the atomic mass is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Atomic number determines an element's identity, while atomic mass affects its atomic weight and isotopes.
Atomic number of 30 and 34?
30 is zinc's atomic number. 34 is selenium's.
How many electrons and protons are in an element with an atomic?
put it in your mind! The Atomic number. is number of protons, While The Mass number. is number of protons and electrons. when you subtract both get the number of electrons and this for any element but not all elements have same atomic numbers or mass and Rutherford First discover "transmutation" from element to other element which determine by their atomic and mass numbers.
Isotopes of an element have a different number of?
neutrons
What describes an atomic number of an element?
The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of that element. It determines the unique identity of an element and its position on the periodic table. Elements with the same atomic number belong to the same element, while elements with different atomic numbers are different elements.
What can an element's atomic number tell you about its state of matter?
An element's atomic number tells you the number of protons in the nucleus of its atoms. This, in turn, can help predict its state of matter at room temperature. Elements with low atomic numbers are typically gases, while those with higher atomic numbers are solids or liquids.
In the periodic table which two properties of an element are usually given as numbers?
The atomic number and atomic mass are the two properties of an element that are usually given as numbers in the periodic table. The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, while the atomic mass represents the average mass of an atom of that element, taking into account the different isotopes and their abundance.
Distinguish between the atomic number and mass number of an element?
The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus of each atom of the element. Mass number is a property of a particular isotope of the element rather than of the element itself: The mass number is the sum of the numbers of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of each atom of the isotope.
Isotopes of the same element have differnt?
Isotopes of the same element have different numbers of neutrons in their atomic nuclei. This results in isotopes having slightly different atomic masses while maintaining the same number of protons (which determines the element's identity).
How is the term atomic number defined for a given atom or isotope?
The atomic number of an atom or isotope is defined as the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. It is a unique identifier for each chemical element, determining its place in the periodic table.Atoms with the same atomic number belong to the same element, while isotopes have the same atomic number but different mass numbers.
How are the atomic mass and the atomic number different?
The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, while the atomic mass is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Atomic number determines an element's identity, while atomic mass affects its atomic weight and isotopes.
What is the relationship between mass number and atomic numbers?
The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus, while the atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus. The atomic number uniquely identifies an element, while the mass number helps determine the atom's mass.
Atomic number of 30 and 34?
30 is zinc's atomic number. 34 is selenium's.
Why is atomic number the proper basis for classification of elements?
Because Atomic number is the identity of an element , all the atoms of an element have the same atomic number while their mass numbers ma be different. for Example Argon(Ar) a noble gas and Calcium(Ca) an active metal have the same mass number 40.
