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Explain with examples (i) Atomic number, (ii) Mass number, (ii... - Science
Explain with examples (i) Atomic number, (ii) Mass number, (iii) Isotopes and iv) Isobars. Give any two uses of isotopes.
(i) Atomic Number (Z):
It is the total number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom.
Example: Hydrogen has 1 proton, so its atomic number
Z = 1.
(ii) Mass Number (A):
It is the sum of the total number of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of an atom.
Example: Carbon has 6 protons and 6 neutrons, so its mass number
A = 12u.
(iii) Isotopes:
Atoms of the same element having the same atomic number but different mass numbers.
Example: Hydrogen has three isotopes: Protium (
{}^{1}_{1}H), Deuterium ({}^{2}_{1}H), and Tritium ({}^{3}_{1}H).
(iv) Isobars:
Atoms of different elements having different atomic numbers but the same mass number.
Example: Calcium (Atomic number 20) and Argon (Atomic number 18) both have a mass number of 40.
Two uses of Isotopes:
An isotope of Uranium is used as fuel in nuclear reactors.
An isotope of Cobalt is used in the treatment of cancer.