Each element has a unique # of protons.

So…EVERY SINGLE ATOM of that element

MUST HAVE the SAME number of protons,
ALWAYS!

This is the reason why each element has a

unique Atomic Number that never changes!
Isotopes are atoms with same # of protons
(making them the SAME ELEMENT), but have a
different # of neutrons.

Having different # of neutrons for the same

element means that the isotopes will have
different mass numbers, too!
 There are 3 isotopes oxygen:

8 8 8

O
8
neutrons
O
9
neutrons
O
10
neutrons
Oxygen Oxygen Oxygen
16
ALL oxygen isotopes 17
have an atomic 18
# of 8,
so they all have 8 protons!
How many protons does each isotope have?

How many neutrons does each isotope have?

 There are 3 isotopes carbon:

6 6 6

C
6
neutrons
C
7
neutrons
C
8
neutrons
Carbon Carbon Carbon
12
ALL carbon isotopes 13 14of 6,
have an atomic #
so they all have 6 protons!
How many protons does each isotope have?

How many neutrons does each isotope have?

Atomic Masses on the periodic table are
normally decimals. WHY??

Atomic Masses are decimals because it is an

AVERAGE mass of all of the element’s isotopes.

Some isotopes are more common than others,

so this is a weighted average.
5
So the Mass # from the periodic table is B
always closest to the most common Boron
isotope’s mass. 10.81
In the universe, there are MUCH more
carbon-12 atoms that exist than carbon-13
and carbon-14 atoms.
6

C
Carbon- 12 Carbon
12.01
When you find the weighted average of the
masses of the carbon isotopes, the average
will be closest to 12!
 The Atomic Mass of calcium is 40.08.

20 20 20 20

Ca Ca Ca Ca
Calcium Calcium Calcium Calcium
40 42 43 44

Which one is the most common calcium isotope?

This is because 40.08 rounded to a whole # is

closest to calcium-40!
 The Atomic Mass of lithium is 6.94.

3 3 3 3

Li Li Li Li
Lithium Lithium Lithium Lithium
5 6 7 8

Which one is the most common lithium isotope?

This is because 6.94 rounded to a whole # is closest

to lithium-7!
• Hyphen Notation:
• Element name – Mass #
• Ex: Carbon – 14

• Nuclear Notation:

c
Ex:
X
Mass #
14
Atomic # 6

Element Symbol