Understanding atomic and mass numbers is important for learning about atoms.
Atomic Number (Z): This number shows how many protons are in the center, or nucleus, of an atom. It tells us what element the atom is. For instance, if an atom has an atomic number of 6, it is carbon!
Mass Number (A): This number shows the total amount of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. So, the carbon atom we mentioned usually has a mass number of 12 because it has 6 neutrons (12 minus 6 equals 6).
These numbers also help us understand something called isotopes. Isotopes are different forms of the same element that have different mass numbers because they have different amounts of neutrons. For example, carbon can be found as carbon-12 or carbon-14.
In short, the atomic number tells you which element you have, while the mass number gives you more details about the atom's structure!
Understanding atomic and mass numbers is important for learning about atoms.
Atomic Number (Z): This number shows how many protons are in the center, or nucleus, of an atom. It tells us what element the atom is. For instance, if an atom has an atomic number of 6, it is carbon!
Mass Number (A): This number shows the total amount of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. So, the carbon atom we mentioned usually has a mass number of 12 because it has 6 neutrons (12 minus 6 equals 6).
These numbers also help us understand something called isotopes. Isotopes are different forms of the same element that have different mass numbers because they have different amounts of neutrons. For example, carbon can be found as carbon-12 or carbon-14.
In short, the atomic number tells you which element you have, while the mass number gives you more details about the atom's structure!