Here's the difference:
* Atomic Number: This represents the number of protons in an atom's nucleus. It defines what element the atom is.
* Mass Number: This is the total number of protons and neutrons in the atom's nucleus. It represents the approximate mass of the atom.
Example:
Carbon has an atomic number of 6, meaning it has 6 protons. Most carbon atoms also have 6 neutrons, making its mass number 12 (6 protons + 6 neutrons).
Key Points:
* The atomic number is a fixed value for each element.
* The mass number can vary for a given element due to the presence of isotopes (atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons).
