Atomic Number:
* Definition: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
* Symbol: Z
* Significance:
* Defines the element. Every element has a unique atomic number.
* Determines the atom's chemical properties.
* Example: Carbon has an atomic number of 6, meaning every carbon atom has 6 protons.
Atomic Mass:
* Definition: The average mass of an atom of an element, taking into account the abundance of its isotopes.
* Symbol: A
* Significance:
* Indicates the relative weight of an atom compared to other atoms.
* It is measured in atomic mass units (amu).
* Example: The atomic mass of Carbon is approximately 12.011 amu. This is an average value because Carbon has isotopes (Carbon-12, Carbon-13, and Carbon-14) with slightly different masses.
Key Points:
* Atomic number is a whole number, while atomic mass can be a decimal.
* Atomic number is constant for a given element, while atomic mass can vary slightly depending on the abundance of isotopes.
* Atomic number determines the identity of the element, while atomic mass reflects the average weight of its atoms.
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