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Objectives © Define the term proton number and atomic number © Describe how proton number gives an element its position in the periodic table Proton number and the periodic table MRI scans unlock some of the brain’s deepest secrets. It is thanks to knowledge about atoms - and what happens inside them - that scientists have developed techniques like this. What is proton number? ‘As you know, an atom has a nucleus. The nucleus is made up of two types of sub-atomic particle: © positively charged protons © neutrons, with no charge. Each element has a different number of protons in its atoms. A helium atom has two protons. A lithium atom has three protons. A gold atom has 79 protons. The number of protons in an atom of an elements its proton number. Proton number is also called atomic number. electron L$ proton no * } / \ / fw / nucleus — neutron 4 Ahelium atom has two protons. 4 Alithium atom has three protons. The proton number of helium is 2. The proton number of lithium is 3. See | How is proton number linked to the periodic table? In the periodic table, the elements are arranged in order of proton number. 1 2 vine | “

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