ATOMIC MASS AND

ATOMIC NUMBER
 The discovery of the subatomic particles prompted
other scientists to study the variations in the
characteristics of elements. English physicist HENRY
GWYN JEFFREYS MOSELEY experimentally found that
different metals bombarded with electrons produced
varying frequencies of X-rays. He attributed these results
to the differences in the positive charge in the nucleus of
the elements. He correlated the frequencies to whole
numbers, which he assigned to each element – the
ATOMIC NUMBERS.
 The atomic number serves as the identity of an atom.
Given the symbol Z, the atomic number refers to the
number of protons in the nucleus of each atom of an
element. IN A NEUTRAL ATOM, THE NUMBER OF
PROTONS IS EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF ELECTRONS.
Therefore, the atomic number also indicates the number
of electrons in a neutral atom.
For example, the atomic number of carbon is 6. This
means that each neutral carbon atom has 6 protons and
6 electrons.
 The atomic mass, given the symbol A, is the total
number of neutrons and protons present in the nucleus
of an atom of an element. All atomic nuclei contain both
protons and neutrons. AN EXCEPTION TO THIS IS
HYDROGEN, WHICH HAS ONE PROTON BUT NO
NEUTRON.

Atomic mass = number of protons + number of neutrons

= atomic number + number of neutrons
 THE MOST ACCEPTABLE WAY TO REPRESENT THE
ATOMIC NUMBER (Z) AND ATOMIC MASS (A) OF AN
ATOM OF A HYPOTHETICAL ELEMENT X IS SHOWN
BELOW:
 ISOTOPES
In most cases, the atoms of
a given element do not have
the same mass. Atoms that
have the same atomic number
but different atomic masses
are known as ISOTOPES. As an
example, hydrogen has
PROTIUM, DEUTERIUM, AND
TRITIUM AS ITS ISOTOPES.
 ISOTOPES
Isotopes follow the same
representation as elements
such as those given in figure.
They may also be written using
the element name or symbol,
followed by a dash and the
atomic mass. FOR EXAMPLE,
PROTIUM MAY ALSO BE
WRITTEN AS hydrogen-1 or H-
1.
 IONS
Nuclear reactions mainly involve the nucleus of a particle, which consists of
the protons and the neutrons. There are reactions, however, that involve only
the electrons that are found outside the nucleus. These reactions are referred to
as CHEMICAL REACTIONS.
During a chemical reaction, THE NUMBER OF PROTONS REMAINS THE SAME
IN THE ATOMIC NUCLEUS, BUT THE ELECTRONS MAY BE LOST BY AN ATOM
AND GAINED BU ANOTHER. The loss or gain of one or more electrons leads to
the formation of an atom with a net positive or negative charge, respectively.
These charged atoms are generally called IONS. A positively charged ion is called
a CATION; a negatively charged ion is called an ANION.
 IONS
The charge (q) of an ion is written as a superscript at the right-hand side
of the chemical symbol. A (+1) or a (-1) charge is normally written as just + or
-, respectively.

The charge of an ion may be computed using the formula

q = number of protons – number of electrons
 IONS
For example, a neutral potassium atom loses one electron to form a
stable potassium ion. Similarly, a neutral magnesium atom loses two
electrons to form its most stable cation.
SUBSTANCE SYMBOL Z A # OF # OF # OF
NEUTRONS PROTONS ELECTRONS

Neutral
POTASSIUM
Cation

Neutral
MAGNESIUM
Cation
 IONS
Examples of anions are the chloride and nitride ions, which
form after the respective neutral atoms gain electrons.
SUBSTANCE SYMBOL Z A # OF # OF # OF
NEUTRONS PROTONS ELECTRONS

Neutral
CHLORINE
Anion

Neutral
NITROGEN
Anion