Electrons, Atomic Number, and Mass Number
This page delves deeper into the arrangement of electrons and introduces the concepts of atomic number and mass number, which are essential for understanding atomic number and mass number in elements gcse.
Definition: Atoms are electrically neutral, meaning the number of electrons equals the number of protons.
The atomic number, also known as the proton number, is introduced as a fundamental property of elements.
Definition: The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom and is unique for each element.
An example is provided using aluminum, which has an atomic number of 13, meaning it has 13 protons and 13 electrons. Its electronic configuration is given as 2,8,3.
Highlight: On the periodic table, atomic numbers increase in order.
The concept of mass number is then explained:
Definition: The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.
The page demonstrates how to calculate the number of neutrons by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number.
Example: For Cobalt (Co), with a mass number of 59 and an atomic number of 27, the number of neutrons is 59 - 27 = 32.
The page concludes with exercises on finding atomic numbers, mass numbers, and calculating the number of neutrons for various elements using the periodic table. This information is crucial for students studying detailed explanation of electron configuration in atoms class 9 and higher levels.