Notation of an Element
The atomic number is typically denoted by the symbol Z and is usually found above the symbol of the element in the periodic table. The notation of an atom typically includes the following components:
- Element Symbol: This is the abbreviated representation of the element’s name, usually one or two letters. For example, “H” for hydrogen, “He” for helium, “C” for carbon, and so on.
- Atomic Number: As mentioned earlier, the atomic number (represented by Z) indicates the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom.
- Mass Number: The mass number (A) of an atom represents the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
The notation of an atom is often represented as:
[Tex](Element Symbol)_{Atomic Number (Z)}^{Mass Number (A)}[/Tex]
For example:
- The notation of a carbon atom with 6 protons and 6 neutrons in its nucleus would be [Tex]C_6^{12}[/Tex]. This represents carbon-12, the most common isotope of carbon.
- The notation of a hydrogen atom with 1 proton and 0 neutrons in its nucleus (the most common isotope) would be [Tex]H_1^1[/Tex], representing hydrogen-1.
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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