EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom, and isotopes have the same atomic number but differ in the number of neutrons.

Detailed explanation-2: -An element’s or isotope’s atomic number tells how many protons are in its atoms. An element’s or isotope’s mass number tells how many protons and neutrons in its atoms.

Detailed explanation-3: -atomic number, the number of a chemical element in the periodic system, whereby the elements are arranged in order of increasing number of protons in the nucleus. Accordingly, the number of protons, which is always equal to the number of electrons in the neutral atom, is also the atomic number.

Detailed explanation-4: -Finding the Number of Protons The number of protons in an atom is equal to the atomic number of the element. For example, let’s use oxygen. According to the periodic table, oxygen has the atomic number eight. The atomic number is located above the element’s symbol.

Detailed explanation-5: -Not only does atomic number define the number of protons, because matter is electrically neutral, it also defines the number of electrons. (Because all matter is neutral, the number of electrons is equal to the number protons!).