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The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom determines an element's atomic number. In other words, each element has a unique number that identifies how many protons are in one atom of that element. For example, all hydrogen atoms, and only hydrogen atoms, contain one proton and have an atomic number of 1. All carbon atoms, and only carbon atoms, contain six protons and have an atomic number of 6. Oxygen atoms contain 8 protons and have an atomic number of 8. The atomic number of an element never changes, meaning that the number of protons in the nucleus of every atom in an element is always the same.

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11y ago
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5mo ago

The Atomic Mass or mass number of an atom is the total number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. It is typically expressed in atomic mass units (u). The mass number is used to identify different isotopes of an element.

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16y ago

The mass number of an atom is the mass of the protons, neutrons, and electrons of that atom combined. You can estimate the mass of a proton or neutron to be about 1 amu. The mass of an electron is so small and insignificant, it almost doesn't really even matter when it comes to the mass number. So say if an atom has 6 protons(carbon) and 6 neutrons. It has a mass number of 12.

Do not get mass number confused with atomic number. Atomic number is the number of protons in the atom. So the atomic number of a carbon atom would be 6! Pretty easy, right? =D

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10y ago

The definition of a mass number is the total number of number of protons and neutrons found in a nucleus. This is also known as the atomic number or the nucleon number.

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13y ago

atomic mass is the number of protons in an atom

mass number is the number of protons plus neutrons in an atom

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Q: What is the atomic mass or mass number?
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Related questions

What is the atomic mass number of krypton?

83.98 amu is the Atomic Mass, 36 is the atomic number.


Is it true that The atomic mass is equal to the atomic number?

No, the atomic mass is not equal to the atomic number. The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, while the atomic mass is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. The atomic mass can differ from the atomic number, especially due to the presence of neutrons.


What is the difference between the atomic number mass number and atomic mass?

We can find Atomic Mass and mass number in chemical elements. Atomic mass is about weight of the atom. Mass number is about total of neutrons and protons.


What do you do with an atomic number and an atomic mass?

The atomic number is the number of a chemical element in the periodic table of Mendeleev; the atomic number is equal to the number of protons and electrons. The atomic mass is the mass of an atom expressed in relative atomic mass units.


Can you use the atomic number and atomic mass to calculate the number of each subatomic particle?

atomic number = number of protons = number of electrons atomic mass = mass of protons + mass of neutrons


What is atomic mass and atomic number for radium?

The atomic number is 88 and the atomic mass is 226


How much is the atomic mass and atomic number for corbon?

The atomic mass of carbon is about 12.01 atomic mass units. The atomic number of carbon is 6, indicating the number of protons in its nucleus.


What is the relationship btw atomic mass and atomic mass number?

We can find atomic mass and mass number in chemical elements. Atomic mass is about weight of the atom. Mass number is about total of neutrons and protons.


How do you know the number of neutrons an atom has?

You can find the number of neutrons in an atom by subtracting the atomic number (number of protons) from the atomic mass number (rounded atomic weight). The atomic mass number represents the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.


Difference between atomic and mass number?

Atomic number shows the number of protons in an element and the mass number shows the number of protons+neutrons In an electrically neutral atom, atomic number is also the number of electrons .


What elements have the atomic number 12 and atomic mass 8?

There is no element with an atomic number of 12 and an atomic mass of 8. Atomic number corresponds to the number of protons in an atom, while atomic mass is the sum of protons and neutrons. The atomic number of an element cannot be smaller than its atomic mass.


What is phosphorus' atomic number and atomic mass number?

Atomic number for p is 15. atomic mass for p is 31.