MSJchem – New Syllabus Topic 2 - Atomic number (Z) and mass number (A)

Atomic number (Z) and mass number (A)

1) Define the terms (i) atomic number (ii) mass number

2) What is the ratio of protons to electrons in a neutral atom?

3) Calculate the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in the

following isotopes:
a) 2H

b) 14C

c) 14N

d) 40Ca

e) 37Cl

f) 79Br

g) 206Pb

h) 235U

4) Define the term isotope:

5) Summarise the difference in physical and chemical properties

for isotopes of the same element.
MSJchem – New Syllabus Topic 2 - Atomic number (Z) and mass number (A)

Answers:
1) Atomic number (Z) = number of protons in the nucleus of an
atom
Mass number (A) = number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus
of an atom
2) What is the ratio of protons to electrons in a neutral atom?
1:1 (neutral atoms have the same number of protons and
electrons)
3)
a) 2H 1 proton, 1 neutron, 1 electron

b) 14C 6 protons, 8 neutrons, 6 electrons

c) 14N 7 protons, 7 neutrons, 7 electrons

d) 40Ca 20 protons, 20 neutrons, 20 electrons

e) 37Cl 17 protons, 20 neutrons, 17 electrons

f) 79Br 35 protons, 44 neutrons, 35 electrons

g) 206Pb 82 protons, 124 neutrons, 82 electrons

h) 235U 92 protons, 143 neutrons, 92 electrons

4) Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same
number of protons but different numbers of neutrons and
therefore different mass numbers.
5) Isotopes have identical chemical properties but different
physical properties (such as density and boiling point).