Atomic Number, Mass Number,

Atomic Mass and Isotopes

Mrs. Coyle
Chemistry
Atomic Number (Z): is the number
of protons
in the nucleus of the atom.

Z=#p
• The number of protons (atomic
number) determine the identity of an
element.
Atoms have no overall electrical charge
so,
an atom must have as many
electrons
as there are
protons
in its nucleus.
The atomic number of an element also
equals
the number of electrons
in a neutral atom of that element.
Ex: Sodium
 What is the atomic number of
Sodium?

 How many protons does sodium

have?

 How many electrons does sodium

have?
Mass Number (A):
• The sum of the protons and neutrons
in the nucleus.

A=#p + #n
Notation
 Other ways to write elements:

Mass Number Mass Number

36

17Cl Cl-36
Atomic Number
Nucleons:

protons and neutrons

 Isotopes
of an element have
different mass numbers
because
they have
different numbers of neutrons,
but they have
the same atomic number.
 Example:
Isotopes of Carbon and Hydrogen
Isotopes of Hydrogen

protium deuterium tritium

H H H

Isotopes of Carbon
 Atomic Mass Unit

is a unit used to compare

the masses of atoms
and has the symbol
u
or
amu.
 1 amu or u
is approximately equal to
the mass of
a single
proton or neutron.
 Carbon-12
Chemists have defined
the carbon-12 atom
as having a mass of
12 atomic mass units.
1 u = 1/12 the mass of a Carbon-12
atom.
 Atomic Mass
is the weighted average
mass
of all the naturally occurring
isotopes
of that element.