ATOMIC NUMBER, MASS

NUMBER AND ISOTOPES

Princess Grace Mae E. Villondo
 Atomic Number
All atoms can be identified by the number of protons
and neutrons they contain. Atomic number (Z) is 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, so the atomic number also
indicates the number of electrons present in the atom.
The chemical identity of an atom can be determine solely
from its atomic number.
 For example, the atomic number of Nitrogen is 7. This
means that each neutral nitrogen atom has 7 protons and
7 electrons. Or, viewed another way, every atom in the
universe that contains 7 protons is correctly named
“nitrogen.”
 MASS NUMBER
The mass number (A) is the total number of neutrons
and protons present in the nucleus of an atom of an
element. Except for the most common form of hydrogen,
which has one proton and no neutrons, all atomic nuclei
contain both protons and neutrons. In general the mass
number is given by:
Mass number
= number of protons + number of neutrons
or = atomic number + number of neutrons
 ISOTOPES
Atoms of a given element do not all have the same
mass. Isotopes are atoms that have the same number of
protons, but have different number of neutrons. Having a
different number of neutrons gives the atom a different
mass number.
Element Atomic Mass Number of Number of Number of
Number Number Electrons Protons Neutrons
Al 13 14

Br 35 80

Cu 64 29

N 7 7

l 53 127

Ag 47 61

Na 11 23

Ca 20 20

Zn 65 35

B 5 11

Kr 36 84
II. Identify the neutral atom described by name and mass number (oxygen-16).

1. The atom with 2 neutrons and 1 proton is_______________.

2. The atom with 17 electrons and 18 neutrons is_______________.
3. The atom with 6 protons and 8 neutrons is_______________.

III. Answer the following:

1. An atom contains 55 protons. What is the element symbol?

2. An atom contains 31 protons, 39 neutrons and 31 electrons. Identify the
mass number of this atom.
3. What is the atomic number of bromine?
4. What is the total number subatomic particles in an atom B-11?
5. What is the atomic number of Zn-65?
6. How many neutrons are in an atom of Hg – 201?