Difference between Valency, Atomic Number and Mass Number
Valency relates to an element’s chemical behavior, atomic mass signifies its total mass, and atomic number identifies its elemental identity based on the number of protons. Below are some more details:
- Valency:
- Valency refers to the combining capacity of an element, indicating the number of electrons an atom can gain, lose, or share to achieve a stable electron configuration.
- It determines how elements interact with other elements to form compounds.
- Valency is typically determined by the number of electrons in the outermost energy level (valence shell) of an atom.
- Valency can be represented by a positive or negative integer or by Roman numerals.
- Atomic Mass:
- Atomic mass is the total mass of an atom, measured in atomic mass units (amu).
- It includes the mass of protons, neutrons, and electrons within the atom.
- Atomic mass is generally calculated by summing the masses of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, with electrons contributing a negligible amount.
- Atomic mass is crucial for determining the overall mass of elements and compounds.
- It is typically represented by the symbol “A” and can vary for different isotopes of the same element.
- Atomic Number:
- The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus of each of its atoms.
- It defines the identity of an element and its placement in the periodic table.
- The atomic number also determines the number of electrons in a neutral atom, as it is equal to the number of protons.
- Atomic number is represented by the symbol “Z” and is a fundamental property used to classify elements and predict their chemical behavior.
- Elements with different atomic numbers are distinct elements, while isotopes of the same element have the same atomic number but different mass numbers.
Atomic Number
Atomic number of an element refers to the number of protons present in its nucleus. It’s also called the nuclear charge number and is symbolized by Z. In a nonionized atom, the atomic number equals the number of orbiting electrons.
The atomic number defines the identity of an element. For instance, carbon, with six protons, remains a carbon atom irrespective of how many neutrons it has neutron. The atomic number serves as the unique identifier for each element.
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