4.3: HOW ATOMS DIFFER ATOMIC NUMBER Atomic number = number of protons = number of electrons Atomic number defines what the element is Periodic Table is arranged by atomic number
MASS NUMBER Mass Number = atomic number + number of neutrons Mass number is the sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus
ISOTOPES Isotopes - atoms of the same element - same number of protons But different numbers of neutrons (so different mass numbers)
CALCULATING ATOMIC MASS Atomic mass is the weighted average mass of the isotopes of an element This is the mass that is given on the periodic table Formula for average atomic mass: (mass of isotope 1 x % abundance) + (mass of isotope 2 x % abundance) + … Remember x% = 0.0x