What is Mass Number?
The mass number of an atom is calculated by adding the number of protons and neutrons. The letter ‘A’ is used to signify it.
Because protons and neutrons exist in the nucleus of an atom, they are collectively referred to as nucleons. A carbon atom, for example, has six protons and six neutrons. As a result, its mass number is 12.
While the number of protons in an element’s atoms remains constant, the number of neutrons might fluctuate. As a result, atoms of the same element might have varying mass numbers, which are referred to as isotopes. An electron’s weight is almost negligible. As a result, an atom’s atomic mass is almost equal to its mass number.
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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