What do the numbers mean at the side of an element in the periodic table?
The numbers at the side of an element in the periodic table represent its atomic number and atomic mass.
The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of that element. This number determines the element’s identity and its place in the periodic table.
The atomic mass of an element is the mass of an atom of that element relative to the mass of an atom of carbon-12, which has a mass of 12 atomic mass units (amu). The atomic mass takes into account the mass of both protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
The atomic number is usually written as a whole number at the top of an element’s box in the periodic table, while the atomic mass is often written as a decimal number below the element’s symbol. In some cases, there may be multiple atomic masses listed for an element, representing the different isotopes of that element.
Atomic number is the number of protons in an atom’s nucleus, which determines the element’s identity.
Atomic mass is the average mass of an atom of an element, taking into account its isotopes and their relative abundance.
Atomic mass is calculated by adding the number of protons and neutrons in an atom’s nucleus.
Elements are arranged on the periodic table based on their increasing atomic number and similar chemical properties.
These numbers provide crucial information about an element’s properties, behavior, and reactivity.
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