LEARNING ABOUT ATOMS BY READING THE PERIODIC TABLE

 The periodic table includes each element’s:  name  atomic number  symbol  atomic mass Carbon 6 C

Atomic Number  The atomic number is the number of protons an element has.  The periodic table lists elements in order by their atomic number.  The number of protons is the same as the number of electrons.

Atomic Mass  The atomic mass (also called mass number) is the weight of one atom of the element.  It is measured in atomic mass units (amu).  Atomic mass will also give you the average number of neutrons in the nucleus by the following formula: # protons + # neutrons = atomic mass # neutrons = atomic mass - # protons * When using these formulas, you must round your atomic mass

Atomic Symbol  The atomic symbol is usually a shortened form of the name.  Sometimes, the symbol is derived from the Latin name.

 What is the atomic number? How many protons? How many electrons? What is the atomic mass? How many neutrons?