Question

What is the qualitative and quantative information conveyed by a symbol?

Answer 1

Each atom is designated by a particular symbol that carries important information and each atom is placed in ascending order of its atomic number in the periodic table.
Explanation of Qualitative nature and quantitative nature of symbol:

1. Qualitative nature of symbol:

• Each element has its own distinct symbol, it may be used to identify it in the periodic table, and periodically looks compact and orderly when symbols are used. For example, carbon is denoted by the symbol C.
• The data will no longer be ordered if the names of each element are entered in the periodic table.
• As a result, qualitative information is conveyed by a symbol that helps to find the identification of an element.

2. Quantitative nature of symbol:

• The most essential quantitative information conveyed by a symbol is the mass number and the atomic number, which are associated with each element in the periodic table.
• The number in the superscript of the symbol indicates the element's mass number, whereas the number in the subscript of the symbol denotes the element's atomic number

Conclusion: Let us consider an example of oxygen,${\mathrm{O}}_8^{16}$

The letter O in the symbol denotes an oxygen atom, which is qualitative information.

The mass number of an atom is 16 and its atomic number is 8, which provides quantitative information.