Atomic Number and Mass

Number
Every person is unique. Every person has a different
identity that can be manifested in differences in physical
appearances, social behaviors, and preferences.

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Even twins have
characteristics that
make them different
from one another.
The uniqueness of a
person has been
used to protect
crucial information.
3
Thumb marks have been
used to validate identity in
official documents, while
faces have been used as an
avenue to secure
information in our gadgets.
Thumb marks and specific
face characteristics are just
a few examples of physical
characteristics that make
humans unique. 4
Similar to humans, elements also have characteristics that
distinguish them from one another. What makes elements
unique? In this unit, you will learn how to determine atomic
and mass numbers—properties of elements that make
them not only interesting but also unique.

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How do we determine the
atomic number and mass
number of an element?

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 The Atom and Its Components: A Review

Atoms are not

indivisible and are
made up of three
subatomic particles
—the protons, the
electrons, and the
neutrons.

The nuclear atom 7

 The Atom and Its Components: A Review

Location Relative mass

Subatomic Relative
in the Symbol (in atomic mass
particle charge
atom unit)

proton inside p +1 1
the
neutron nucleus n 0 1

outside
1 1
electron the e -1
1840 8
 The Atom and Its Components: A Review

● Atoms in their neutral state have a zero charge due to

the equal number of protons and electrons.

● The electrons are responsible for almost all chemical

properties and reactivities of substances.

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 The Atom and Its Components: A Review

The nucleus, which contains the protons and the neutrons,

are unchanged in chemical reactions but change in
energy-driven nuclear reactions.

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 Berzelius Notation of an Element

The letters designate the

chemical symbol for the
element.

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 Berzelius Notation of an Element

The number in the upper

portion is the element’s atomic
number.

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 Berzelius Notation of an Element

The number at the lower portion

is its mass number.

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Berzelius Notation of an Element

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Berzelius Notation of an Element

Zinc (Zn), for example, has an

atomic number of 30 and an
atomic mass of 65.38 amu.

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Berzelius Notation of an Element

In some cases, only the mass

number is shown. This notation
is also read as zinc-65, or Zn-65.

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In representing elements using this
notation, it is easy to remember that
mass numbers are always greater than
atomic numbers. Hence, your chemical
representation is correct if the left
superscript is greater than the left
subscript.

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 The Atomic Number

● The atomic number (Z), also referred to in most

references as the proton number (p), represents the
total number of protons present in an element.

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 The Atomic Number

● The atomic number (Z), also referred to in most

references as the proton number (p), represents the
total number of protons present in an element.

● In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to

the number of electrons.

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 The Atomic Number

● The atomic number (Z), also referred to in most

references as the proton number (p), represents the
total number of protons present in an element.

● In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to

the number of electrons.

● The atomic number does not change during chemical

reactions.
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The atomic number is the soul of
the atom. It’s what makes elements
itself.

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 The Atomic Number

● The number of neutrons, however, changes much

easier compared to the number of protons. Neutrons
serve as buffers between protons in the nucleus.

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 The Atomic Number

● The number of neutrons, however, changes much

easier compared to the number of protons. Neutrons
serve as buffers between protons in the nucleus.

● Elements that differ only by a neutron number have

the same atomic number, and therefore, have the
same chemical identity.

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 The Atomic Number

● The number of neutrons, however, changes much

easier compared to the number of protons. Neutrons
serve as buffers between protons in the nucleus.

● Elements that differ only by a neutron number have

the same atomic number, and therefore, have the
same chemical identity.

● This set of elements are referred to as isotopes.

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 The Mass Number

The mass number (A), also referred in most references as

atomic mass, is defined as the sum of the number of
protons (p) and the number of neutrons (n) in an atom.

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 The Mass Number

Alternatively, the equation can be rewritten using the

element’s atomic number.

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 The Mass Number

The number of neutrons in an atom can also be calculated

by taking the difference between the mass number and
the atomic number.

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 The Mass Number

Number Number Number

Atomic Mass
of of of
Element number number
protons electrons neutrons
(Z) (A)
(p) (e) (n)
helium 2 2 2 2 4
lithium 3 3 4 3 7
beryllium 4 4 5 4 9
boron 5 5 6 5 11
carbon 6 6 6 6 12 28
 The Charge Number

● The electrons, being the tiniest and most mobile of all

subatomic particles, can easily be removed out of an
atom or captured from an external source.

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 The Charge Number

● The electrons, being the tiniest and most mobile of all

subatomic particles, can easily be removed out of an
atom or captured from an external source.

● When electrons are removed or captured in an atom, it

becomes charged and is transformed to an ion.

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 The Charge Number

● The electrons, being the tiniest and most mobile of all

subatomic particles, can easily be removed out of an
atom or captured from an external source.

● When electrons are removed or captured in an atom, it

becomes charged and is transformed to an ion.

● Charges result when there is an imbalance between

the number of electrons and the number of protons.
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 The Charge Number

● Since electrons are negatively charged, the removal of

electrons produces positively charged ions called
cation.

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 The Charge Number

● Since electrons are negatively charged, the removal of

electrons produces positively charged ions called
cation.

● Cations have more protons than electrons.

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 The Charge Number

● Since electrons are negatively charged, the removal of

electrons produces positively charged ions called
cation.

● Cations have more protons than electrons.

● Atoms that gain electrons from external sources

become negatively charged ions called anions. Anions
have more electrons than protons.
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 The Charge Number

The charge number (q) is determined as the difference

between the number of protons and the number of
electrons.

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 The Charge Number

The general notation for any neutral element, where X is its chemical
symbol, A is its mass number, and Z is its atomic number.
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When does the charge
number become positive?
When does the charge
number become negative?

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Given the chemical symbol of Br, determine its
number of protons, electrons, and neutrons.

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Given the chemical symbol of Br, determine its
number of protons, electrons, and neutrons.

has 35 protons, 35 electrons, and 44 neutrons.

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Given the chemical symbol of
aluminum, determine its number of
protons, electrons, and neutrons.

Al
27
13
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Given the chemical symbol of radon, determine its
number of protons, electrons, and neutrons.

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Given the chemical symbol of radon, determine its
number of protons, electrons, and neutrons.

has 86 protons, 86 electrons, and 136 neutrons.

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Given the chemical symbol of mercury,
determine its number of protons,
electrons, and neutrons.

Hg
201
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Given the chemical symbol of manganese (V) ion,
determine its number of protons, electrons, and
neutrons.

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Given the chemical symbol of manganese (V) ion,
determine its number of protons, electrons, and
neutrons.

has 25 protons, 20 electrons, and 30

neutrons.
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Given the chemical symbol of cobalt (IV)
ion, determine its number of protons,
electrons, and neutrons.

Co
59 +4
27
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Identify what is asked in each item.

1. It represents the number of protons in the nucleus.

2. It is equal to the sum of the protons and neutrons in an
atom.
3. It represents the difference between the number of
protons and electrons in an ion.
4. It is the term used to describe positively charged ions.
5. It is the term used to describe negatively charged ions.
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Determine whether the following statements is true or
false.
1. A neutral atom has zero charge because the number of
its proton is equal to the number of its electron.
2. Based on the general notation for an element, the
atomic number is written as a left subscript of the
chemical symbol.
3. Cations are formed when the number of electrons is
less than the number of protons. 48
● Each element in the periodic table has a name
and a distinctive chemical symbol.
● The atomic number (Z), also referred to in most
references as the proton number (p), represents
the total number of protons present in an
element.

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● The mass number (A), also referred in most
references as atomic mass, is defined as the sum
of the number of protons (p) and the number of
neutrons (n) in an atom.
● When electrons are removed or captured in an
atom, a neutral atom becomes charged and is
transformed into an ion. Cations are positively
charged, while anions are negatively charged.
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● The charge number (q) is determined as the
difference between the number of protons and
the number of electrons.
● Elements are usually represented by the general
notation below.

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 Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Atomic Mass
solve for atomic mass
where: if atomic number and
A is atomic mass neutron number are
Z is atomic number given.
n is neutron number

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 Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Charge
solve the charge
Number
where: number if proton
q is charge number and electron
p is proton number numbers are given.
e is electron number

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Why is it easier to remove electrons
than protons in a neutral atom?

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