1.4 and 1.

5 - Atomic Number
and Mass, and Isotopes

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Number and Mass and Isotopes
 An element’s atomic number is the number
of protons in its nucleus.
 Since atoms are neutral, and have equal
numbers of protons and electrons, the
atomic number is also equal to the number
of electrons for a neutral atom.
– Eg helium has an atomic number of 2, so it has
2p+ and 2e-.
CH1120 - 1.4 and 1.5 Atomic
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Number and Mass and Isotopes
 Mass number is the total number of protons
and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
– Eg. Normal helium has a mass number of 4. It
has 2p+ and 2n.

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Number and Mass and Isotopes
 In the periodic table in your text book, the
atomic number is the number located in the
top of each square for each element in the
table. This is common for most versions of
the periodic table.

CH1120 - 1.4 and 1.5 Atomic

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Number and Mass and Isotopes
Three Isotopes of Hydrogen

CH1120 - 1.4 and 1.5 Atomic

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Number and Mass and Isotopes
 Given any suitable combination of mass number,
atomic number, and the number of protons,
neutrons, and electrons, find the other quantities.
 Atomic number = #p+ = #e-
 Mass number – atomic number = #n
 Eg. If He has a mass number of 4 find its atomic
number, and number of protons, neutrons, and
electrons.
 Ans: From the periodic table, helium has an
atomic number of 2, which means that it has 2
protons and 2 electrons. It also has #n = mass
number – atomic number = 4 - 2 = 2 neutrons.

CH1120 - 1.4 and 1.5 Atomic

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Number and Mass and Isotopes
 Eg. 2 If uranium has 146 neutrons, what are
the atomic number, the number of protons
and electrons and the mass number.
 Ans. From the periodic table U has an
atomic number of 92, which means that it
has 92 protons and 92 electrons. Its mass
number is 92 + 146 = 238

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Number and Mass and Isotopes
The Structure of Atoms 05

CH1120 - 1.4 and 1.5 Atomic

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Number and Mass and Isotopes
 The Structure of Atoms 06
Isotopes: Atoms with identical atomic numbers,
but different mass numbers.

Isotopic Mass: The mass of a pure sample of one

isotope of an element.

Atomic Mass: A weighted average of the isotopic

masses of an element’s naturally occurring
isotopes.
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Number and Mass and Isotopes
 The Structure of Atoms 07
75
 The isotope 34Se is used medically for diagnosis
of pancreatic disorders. How many protons,
75
neutrons, and electrons does an atom of 34Se
have?

 An atom of element X contains 47 protons and 62

neutrons. Identify the element, and write the
symbol for the isotope in
CH1120 - 1.4 andthe standard format.
1.5 Atomic
Number and Mass and Isotopes
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 The Structure of Atoms 08
35
 Chlorine has two naturally occurring isotopes: 17 Cl

with an abundance of 75.77% and an isotopic

mass of 34.969 amu, and 37

17 Cl
with an abundance

of 24.23% and an isotopic mass of 36.966 amu.

What is the atomic mass of chlorine?

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Number and Mass and Isotopes