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Explain why the atomic mass of an element is usually not given as a whole number even though each individual atom of the element has a whole number of protons and neutrons.?
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
There are two reasons. The first is that the masses of protons and neutrons are not 1 unit but slightly greater. The mass of an atom is the mass of a whole number of protons, a whole number of neutrons as well as the same number of electrons as protons. Overall, therefore, the mass should be greater than the number of protons and neutrons (electrons have very little mass). But some of the mass is converted to energy which is used to hold the positively charged nucleus together. As a result the mass of carbon-12 is an exact whole number (12) and that is the only element for which that is true. The second, and possibly more important reason is that most atoms are found in the form of isotopes which have different numbers of neutrons and so different masses. The Atomic Mass listed for an element is an average of the masses of all these isotopes, weighted together according to their abundance of earth.
Wiki User
∙ 6y ago
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Isotopes of uncharged elements have different numbers of which of these?
Isotopes of an element have nuclei with the same number of protons (the same atomic number) but different numbers of neutrons Neutrons (:
What is the correct identity of an element that contains 50 electrons and 69 neutrons?
As asked, there is not enough information in your question to answer it as there are no "following" from which the choice of "Which of the following is the correct identity..." can be made.However, from the given information:Elements are electrically neutral, so if it has 50 electrons, it must also have 50 protons; and the number of protons gives the atomic number of the element - the element with atomic number 50 is Tin (Sn).The number of neutrons can vary which isotope it is (eg Deuterium is Hydrogen with 1 neutron, Tritium is Hydrogen with 2 neutrons).The number of neutrons and protons together in the nucleus gives the relative atomic weight of the element; tin has a relative atomic weight of 119 which less the 50 protons leaves 69 neutrons, confirming the element.Now you know the element, you can choose "which of the following" (which were not included in your question) is the right answer; or even better, re-write your question to something like "which element has 50 electrons and 69 protons" as opposed to copying your teacher's question (and possibly committing copyright infringement, aka piracy).
The mass number is the sum of which two subatomic particles?
Neutrons and Protons.
Why mass number of are always whole number?
The main reason is that many elements exist in several isotopic forms. These are atoms with the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons. Since the atomic mass is essentially based on the number of protons and neutrons in each atom, the element will exist in several forms with different masses. The atomic mass is the average of the masses of these isotopes, weighted together according to their abundance.
Why does Rb have a greater atomic radius than K?
A potassium atom has 19 protons and 19 electrons, plus 20-22 neutrons. A rubidium atom has 37 protons and 37 electrons, plus 46-50 neutrons and so is bigger.
What element has 8 neutrons 8 protons?
The element that has 8 protons and 8 neutrons is oxygen.
What is the sum of protons and neutrons known as an element?
Sum of protons and neutrons is the Mass number of the element. The number of protons is equal to the number of electrons. Neutrons and protons are sub atomic particles.
How many protons and neutrons are in the element?
Neon has 10 protons and 9 neutrons.
An element's atomic mass number is?
It is about neutrons and protons. The total of neutrons and protons.
What element has six protons and six neutrons?
carbon has six protons and six neutrons
What element has the same number of neutrons and protons?
Atoms having the same number of protons and neutrons make up the same element.
The mass number of an atom indicates the number of what?
The mass number is the sum of protons + neutrons.
Is boron protons electrons or neutrons?
Boron is an atom or element, and it contains protons, electrons, and neutrons.
How many protons and neutrons and electrons does the element gold?
Neutrons - 118 Protons/electrons - 79
What element has 9 electrons 9 protons and 10 neutrons?
The element is Neon and the isotope is 10Ne19
What element has 53 protons and 74 neutrons?
Tungsten has 74 protons and 74 electrons, but it has 110 neutrons. Tantalum has 108 neutrons, but 73 protons and 73 neutrons.
What element has 11 protons and 13 neutrons?
Sodium, Na, is the element that has eleven protons.
