Atomic Mass and Atomic Number
Chemistry can sometimes be a little confusing especially when you are studying about elements and atoms and you have terms like atomic mass and atomic number. Often, students tend to mix up these terms and while they sound similar they think they can use them interchangeably. However, that is a wrong practice and it could result in negative marking. In essence, it is important to learn the concepts in the right manner and know the difference between the terms. As such here, we will be learning about the difference between atomic mass and atomic number.
Table of Contents
Atomic number definition
A chemical element’s atomic number is defined as the sum of protons present in the nucleus of that atom of the element. Since neutrons carry no net electrical charge, it is the charge number of the nucleus.
Atomic mass and atomic number may have similarities, but they are used to reveal different characteristics of elements. According to the definitions given, relative atomic mass which is also called atomic weight is the measured total mass of an element’s atom. Atomic mass is nothing but the total number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Difference Between Atomic Mass and Atomic Number
Atomic mass and an atomic number of elements are said to be closely related because whenever the atomic number is high, the atomic mass is also said to be high. But again that brings us to the question, what is the difference between atomic mass and atomic number? To know the answer, let’s look at some key differences below.
Difference Between Atomic Mass and Atomic Number |
|
|---|---|
Atomic Mass |
Atomic Number |
| Atomic mass is associated with the number of neutrons and protons that are present in a particular nucleus of an element. | Atomic number is usually the number of protons present in an element’s nucleus. |
| It is the average weight of an element. | It is the total number of protons in the atom’s nucleus. |
| Atomic mass is denoted by A | The letter Z is used to represent an atomic number. |
| Atomic mass cannot be used to define the type of element. | Atomic number mainly helps in the classification and identification of an element. |
| Atomic mass is also used to classify different isotopes of the same element | Isotopes only share the same atomic number. |
| Atomic mass is mostly measured using atomic mass unit (amu). | Atomic number is just a digit that is used to place elements in a periodic table. |
These are some differences between atomic mass and atomic number. To know more about atoms, atomic structure and other chemistry topics you can keep visiting BYJU’s or download our app for interesting content and learning experience. You should lookup Atomic Mass of Elements and learn more about the atomic mass of different elements.
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Frequently asked questions
How to determine the atomic mass?
The atomic mass of a single atom of an element can be calculated by adding the mass of neutrons and protons.
How to write the atomic number?
The number of protons denotes an element’s atomic number.
The atomic number is denoted with the symbol ______.
(Z).
Where is the atomic number denoted in the periodic table?
The atomic number is located in the upper left corner of the element in the periodic table.
Where is the atomic weight denoted in the periodic table?
The atomic weight is located at the bottom of the element in the periodic table.
What is an atomic symbol?
The atomic symbol is a representation of the name of the elements by a unique chemical symbol ‘X’.
Related Links:
| Difference Between Atomic Mass And Atomic Weight | Difference Between Molar Mass and Molecular mass |
Please tell diffrence between atomic mass and mass number for class 9.
Atomic mass is associated with the number of neutrons and protons that are present in a particular nucleus of an element. Atomic number is usually the number of protons present in an element’s nucleus.