What subatomic particle determines what element an atom is?

What subatomic particle determines what element an atom is?

Protons are the subatomic particle that determines the identity of an element. The atomic number, which can be found on the periodic table, tells us the number of protons in an atom of an element. For example, carbon has an atomic number of 6, so there are 6 protons in an atom of carbon.

What determines the number of elements in atom?

The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. The number of protons define the identity of an element (i.e., an element with 6 protons is a carbon atom, no matter how many neutrons may be present).

Which subatomic particles are counted to determine the atomic number of an element?

The number of protons in the nucleus of the atom is equal to the atomic number (Z). The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons.

What determines the type of atom?

The primary sub-atomic particle is the proton, because the number of protons inside an atom determines which type of atom it is. For example, all atoms that have 8 protons in the nucleus are oxygen atoms. All atoms that have 6 protons are carbon atoms.

What determines the identify of an atoms?

The number of protons is very important in the atom as it gives the atom its identity. An atom with only 1 proton will be identified as a hydrogen atom; an atom with 6 protons will be identified as a carbon atom and so on. The number of protons in an atom determines its elemental identity.

What determines the atomic number of an atom quizlet?

Step 1. The atomic number of an atom is determined by the number of protons.

What is an element determined by?

Each element is defined by the number of protons in its nucleus. The chemical elements are organized on the periodic table of the elements. Each element has an atomic number and a symbol.

What determines the number of electrons in an element quizlet?

The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom of an element. Electrons have the same number of protons because electrons have no overall electrical charge, so they have to have to be balanced with the number of protons of an element. You just studied 3 terms!

What determines the atomic mass of an atom?

The mass of a proton or neutron is about 1,836 times larger. This explains why the mass of an atom is primarily determined by the mass of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus. The electron has other intrinsic properties. One of these is called spin.

What determines the atomic mass of an atom quizlet?

How do you determine the Mass Number of an atom? Total number of Protons PLUS Neutrons. Most of the “mass” of an atom is in it’s nucleus.

What determines the element quizlet?

The number of protons determines the element.