Name: atomic identity, mass, and isotopes
Uploaded: 2023-06-23T15:38:43.000Z
Duration: 1 min 12 s
Channel: JoVE

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Next Generation Science Standards

High School

Physical Science

Matter and Its Interactions

HS-PS1-2

Atomic Number and Mass Number

The atomic number, denoted as Z, is the total number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
On the periodic table, each square represents an element having a unique atomic number. These elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number.
An atom with one proton is hydrogen, an atom with two protons is helium, and so on.
The mass number of an atom is the sum of the protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus,&#160; represented by the letter A.
So, a hydrogen atom with one proton and no neutrons has a mass number of one, while a helium atom with two protons and two neutrons has a mass number of four.
Elements can have multiple isotopes with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
For example, carbon atoms exist as carbon-12 with six protons and six neutrons, carbon-13 with six protons and seven neutrons, or carbon-14 with six protons and eight neutrons.

atomic number and mass number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is its atomic number (Z). This is the defining trait of an element. Its value determines the identity of the atom. For example, any atom that contains six protons is the element carbon and has the atomic number 6, regardless of how many neutrons or electrons it may have. A neutral atom must contain the same number of positive and negative charges, so the number of protons equals the number of electrons. This means that the atomic number also indicates the number of electrons in an atom.
Mass Number
The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom is called its mass number (A). The number of neutrons is the difference between the mass number and the atomic number: (A &#8211; Z). In their most common form, many elements contain the same number of neutrons as protons. For example, the most common form of carbon has six neutrons and six protons.
Isotopes
In the early 1900s, English chemist Frederick Soddy realized that an element could have types of atoms with different masses that were chemically indistinguishable. These different types are called isotopes &#8212; atoms of the same element that differ in mass. Isotopes differ in mass because they have different numbers of neutrons but are chemically identical because they have the same number of protons. Soddy was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921 for this discovery.
This text is adapted from <a href="https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/2-3-atomic-structure-and-symbolism?query=atomic%20number&amp;target=%7B%22type%22%3A%22search%22%2C%22index%22%3A0%7D#fs-idp27048016">Openstax, Chemistry 2e, Section 2.3: Atomic Structure and Symbolism</a>, <a href="https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/2-2-evolution-of-atomic-theory?query=isotopes&amp;target=%7B%22type%22%3A%22search%22%2C%22index%22%3A0%7D#fs-idp40043728">Section:2.2: Evolution of Atomic theory and </a><a href="https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology-2e/pages/2-1-elements-and-atoms-the-building-blocks-of-matter">Anatomy and Physiology 2e, Section 2.1: Elements and Atoms: the building blocks of matter</a><a href="https://openstax.org/books/chemistry-2e/pages/2-2-evolution-of-atomic-theory?query=isotopes&amp;target=%7B%22type%22%3A%22search%22%2C%22index%22%3A0%7D#fs-idp40043728">.</a>

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom is its atomic number (Z). This is the defining trait of an element. Its value determines the identity of ...

Education

JoVE Core

Anatomy and Physiology

Unit 1

Fundamentals of Chemistry

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

atomic identity, mass, and isotopes

Atomic identity depends on the number of protons in the nucleus, and mass depends on protons and neutrons together. The number of protons is the atomic number, or Z. It defines the element. For example, any atom with six protons is carbon, no matter how many neutrons or electrons it has.

In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons. Because of that, the atomic number also tells you the number of electrons in the atom. The total number of protons and neutrons is called the mass number, or A. The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number, or A minus Z.

Many elements have a common form with the same number of neutrons as protons. Carbon is one example. Its most common form has six protons and six neutrons. Some atoms of the same element can still differ in mass. These are called isotopes. Isotopes have the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons, so they are chemically identical even though their masses are different. In the early 1900s, Frederick Soddy identified isotopes and later received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery.

Atomic Identity, Mass, and Isotopes

what is matter?

Matter, Mass, and Weight Basics

Matter is the substance that makes up the universe, from a grain of sand to a star. Scientists define matter as anything that occupies space and has mass. Mass is the amount of matter in an object, while weight depends on gravity. Mass stays the same whether an object is on Earth or in the zero-gravity environment of outer space. Weight changes when gravity changes. An object weighs more where gravity is stronger and less where gravity is weaker. A piece of cheese that weighs a pound on Earth...

the periodic table and organismal elements

the-periodic-table-and-organismal-elements

Organismal Elements in the Periodic Table

The periodic table helps identify the elements that make up living organisms. Biology groups these as organismal elements because they are the chemical building blocks of life. These elements are found in different amounts in the body. Some are present in large quantities, while others are needed only in small amounts. The video connects the periodic table to the elements that organisms actually use. Understanding organismal elements helps students link chemistry to biology. It shows how...

atomic structure

From Atomos to the Modern Atom

Atoms are the tiny building blocks of matter, and ideas about them go back to the Greek philosopher Democritus. He suggested that everything on Earth is made of atomos, a Greek word meaning "indivisible." That idea later led to the modern word atom. In the 19th century, John Dalton developed an atomic theory that is still largely correct today. He proposed five key ideas. All matter is made of tiny particles called atoms. Atoms of the same element are alike, and atoms of different elements are...

chemical symbols

Chemical Symbols and Element Names

Chemical symbols are short abbreviations that stand for an element or a single atom of that element. Mercury, for example, has the symbol Hg. The same symbol can point to one atom of mercury in the microscopic domain or to a sample labeled as many atoms of mercury in the macroscopic domain. Many symbols come from the element’s common name. Others are shortened from a name in another language. Most chemical symbols use one or two letters. For a few elements with atomic numbers above 112,...

Atomic identity depends on the number of protons in the nucleus, and mass depends on protons and neutrons together. The number of protons is the atomic number, or Z. It defines the element. For example, any atom with six protons is carbon, no matter how many neutrons or electrons it has. In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons. Because of that, the atomic number also tells you the number of electrons in the atom. The total number of protons and neutrons is...

atomic weight

Atomic Mass and Mole Calculations

Atomic mass and mole calculations help explain how much matter is in atoms and compounds. Protons and neutrons have about the same mass, about 1.67 × 10 -24 grams. Scientists define that mass as one atomic mass unit, or amu, also called one Dalton. Electrons are much lighter than protons. They weigh only 9.11 × 10 -28 grams, or about 1/1800 of an atomic mass unit. Because of that small mass, electrons do not add much to an element’s overall atomic mass. When chemists calculate atomic mass,...

isotopes and radioisotopes

Radioisotopes in Medicine and Imaging

Radioisotopes are unstable isotopes that can be used to study the body and treat disease. An isotope is an atom of the same element that has a different mass because it contains a different number of neutrons. It still has the same number of protons, so it remains chemically identical. English chemist Frederick Soddy explained this idea in the early 1900s and later received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1921. Some isotopes have more neutrons than usual and are called heavy isotopes. These...

electron behavior

Electron Shells and Discovery

Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that stay near the positively charged nucleus of an atom. They occupy spaces linked to energy levels called shells. They are also arranged into subshells and orbitals within each shell. An electron’s shell shows its general energy level. Electrons closer to the nucleus have less energy, while electrons farther away have more energy. The outer shells have more space, so they can hold more electrons than the inner shells. Subshells describe...

introduction to chemical bonds

How Atoms Bond to Reach Stability

Atoms bond to become more stable, and their outermost electrons play the biggest role in that process. The inner electron shell can hold two electrons. The next two shells can each hold eight electrons. This is called the octet rule. It states that, except for the innermost shell, atoms are most stable when their valence shell, or outer shell, has eight electrons. When atoms do not have enough electrons to fill that outer shell, they form chemical bonds with other atoms. A chemical bond is the...

ionic bonds

Ionic Bonds and Charge Transfer

Ionic bonds form when atoms transfer electrons and become charged particles. A positive ion and a negative ion attract each other because opposite charges pull together. This type of bonding helps explain how some substances are held together. In many cases, an atom loses one or more electrons, while another atom gains them. The atom that loses electrons becomes a cation, which is a positively charged ion. The atom that gains electrons becomes an anion, which is a negatively charged ion. The...

covalent bonds

Polar and Nonpolar Covalent Bonds

Covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons to fill their valence shells. The way those shared electrons are pulled depends on electronegativity, which is an atom's tendency to attract electrons in a bond. That difference also helps explain why some molecules are polar and others are nonpolar. Atoms with similar electronegativities form nonpolar covalent bonds. In these bonds, electrons are shared equally, so there is no charge across the molecule. When two atoms have different...

hydrogen bonds

Hydrogen Bonding and DNA Stability

Hydrogen bonding helps explain why some molecules stick together more strongly than others. A hydrogen bond forms when a weakly positive hydrogen atom, already bonded to an electronegative atom, is attracted to another electronegative atom on a nearby polar molecule. Common examples include water, hydrogen fluoride, and ammonia. This attraction happens because hydrogen has a much lower electronegativity than atoms such as fluorine, oxygen, and nitrogen. The electronegativity difference, along...

ions, molecules, and compounds

Atomic Charges, Bonds, and Compounds

Atoms can gain or lose electrons during chemical reactions and become ions. An ion is an atom with an electrical charge. This charge is positive or negative, and it often helps the atom reach a full valence shell. Some atoms are more likely to donate electrons, while others are more likely to accept them. Potassium is one example. It has atomic number 19 and one electron in its valence shell, so it is likely to donate that electron and become a slightly positive ion called a cation. Fluorine...

states of matter

Solids, Liquids, Gases, and Plasma

Solids, liquids, gases, and plasma are the main forms of matter described here. Solids are rigid and keep a definite shape. Liquids flow and take the shape of their container, although gravity gives the surface a flat or slightly curved top. Solids and liquids also have volumes that stay nearly the same even when pressure changes. Gases behave differently from solids and liquids. A gas takes both the shape and the volume of its container. In matter with this behavior, the particles are far...

colloids and suspensions

Suspensions, Sedimentation, and Colloids

Suspensions and colloids are two common kinds of mixtures seen in everyday life. Mud and water, flour and water, and tempera paint are suspensions. These mixtures are heterogeneous, which means their particles are not spread out evenly. The particles are relatively large and can be seen with the naked eye or a magnifying glass. Suspension particles make mixtures cloudy, and they settle out after mixing. The settling of particles in a suspension is called sedimentation. A blood test can measure...

introduction to chemical reactions

Chemical Reaction Basics and Equilibrium

Chemical reactions start with reactants and end with products. Reactants are the substances that enter a reaction, and products are the new substances that form. For example, sodium and chloride ions are the reactants in the formation of table salt. Chemical reactions follow the law of conservation of mass. Matter is not created or destroyed during the reaction. That means the atoms and elements in the reactants are still present in the products, and nothing new appears in the products that...

types of chemical reactions: anabolic and catabolic

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Anabolism, Catabolism, and ATP Use

Anabolism and catabolism are the two main kinds of metabolic reactions in the body. Metabolism is the total set of anabolic and catabolic reactions that keep life running. These reactions follow the first law of thermodynamics, which says energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can only change form. Anabolism builds larger, more complex molecules from smaller ones. These anabolic, or biosynthesis, reactions need energy in the form of ATP. They join monosaccharides into polysaccharides, fatty...

types of chemical reactions: exchange and reversible

types-of-chemical-reactions-exchange-and-reversible

Electron Transfer and Chemical Equilibrium

Exchange reactions and reversible reactions are two important ideas in chemistry. In an exchange reaction, synthesis and decomposition happen at the same time. Chemical bonds are both formed and broken. These reactions can absorb chemical energy, store it, and release it. A special type of exchange reaction is the oxidation-reduction reaction, or redox reaction. In a redox reaction, electrons move from one compound to another. The electrons often come from hydrogen atoms, which contain one...

energy transfer in chemical reactions

Chemical Energy and Reaction Types

Chemical reactions depend on energy transfer, chemical bonds, and the way matter collides. A reaction needs enough energy for particles to meet with the right force and precision. That energy can break old bonds and help form new ones. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. A person lifting a brick uses kinetic energy to move the brick into place on a wall. Once the wall is built, it stores potential energy, which is the energy of position or structure. If the wall falls, that stored energy...

factors influencing the rate of chemical reactions

factors-influencing-the-rate-of-chemical-reactions

Chemical Reaction Rates and Catalysts

Chemical reaction rates depend on how often particles collide and whether those collisions have enough energy to start a reaction. That starting energy is called activation energy. Factors that affect reaction rate either lower that energy or make successful collisions more likely. Concentration and pressure can speed reactions up because they put more particles in the same space. When more particles are present, they are more likely to bump into one another. Chemists can also increase...

acids, bases and neutralization reactions

How pH Affects Cells and Digestion

Acids, bases, and pH help control how cells and body systems work. In biology, pH can strongly affect enzymes, proteins, and nucleic acids. Enzymes work best within a certain pH range, and pH changes can alter their structure or denature them, which changes how they function. Acids release hydrogen ions, or H+, in solution. A hydrogen ion is a proton, so it is very reactive in chemical reactions. Strong acids release all of their H+ in water and ionize completely. Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a...

key terms and concepts

Learn how protons define an element, how to find mass number and neutrons, and why isotopes of the same element have different masses.

Atomic Identity, Mass, and Isotopes | JoVE K12

anatomy and physiology

JoVE Core Anatomy and Physiology showcases the anatomical and physiological details of the human body in comprehensive, clear, and engaging video animations. This collection of lessons focuses on the structures, components, functions, and requirements of the human body. It is complemented by scientist-in-action videos that demonstrate the application of this knowledge in real-world medical and research settings.

Earth and Space Science

Earth’s Place in the Universe

HS-ESS1-3

Florida Department of Education

SC.912.P.8

SC.912.P.8.4

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South Carolina College and Career Ready Science Standards

Chemistry

C-PS1-1

Georgia Standards of Excellence

9-12

SPS1.

Properties of Atoms, Ions, and Isotopes

The Atomic Theory of Matter

The earliest recorded discussion of the basic structure of matter comes from ancient Greek philosophers. Leucippus and Democritus argued that all matter ...

Atomic Structure

All matter is composed of atoms, the smallest individual units of elements. Each atom is made up of three subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and ...

Subatomic Particles

Dalton was only partially correct about the particles that make up matter. All matter is composed of atoms, and atoms are composed of three smaller ...

Electronic Structure of Atoms


An atom comprises protons and neutrons, which are contained inside the dense, central&#160;core called the nucleus, with electrons present around the ...

Electron Behavior

Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that are attracted to an orbit around the positively-charged nucleus of an atom. They reside in ...

Electron Orbital Model

Orbitals are the areas outside of the atomic nucleus where electrons are most likely to reside. They are characterized by different energy levels, shapes, ...

Atomic Orbitals

An atomic orbital represents the three-dimensional regions in an atom where an electron has the highest probability to reside. The radial distribution ...

The Pauli Exclusion Principle

The arrangement of electrons in the orbitals of an atom is called its electron configuration. We describe an electron configuration with a symbol that ...

The Energies of Atomic Orbitals

In an atom, the negatively charged electrons are attracted to the positively charged nucleus. In a multielectron atom, electron-electron repulsions are ...

The Aufbau Principle and Hund's Rule

To determine the electron configuration for any particular atom, we can build the structures in the order of atomic numbers. Beginning with hydrogen, and ...

Electron Configurations

Electron configurations and orbital diagrams can be determined by applying the Aufbau principle (each added electron occupies the subshell of lowest ...

electron-configuration-of-multielectron-atoms

Electron Configuration of Multielectron Atoms

The alkali metal sodium (atomic number 11) has one more electron than the neon atom. This electron must go into the lowest-energy subshell available, the ...

The Periodic Table

As early chemists discovered more elements, they realized that various elements could be grouped by their similar chemical behaviors. One such grouping ...

Periodic Classification of the Elements

The periodic table arranges atoms based on increasing atomic number so that elements with the same chemical properties recur periodically. When their ...

atomic-radii-and-effective-nuclear-charge

Atomic Radii and Effective Nuclear Charge

The elements in groups of the periodic table exhibit similar chemical behavior. This similarity occurs because the members of a group have the same number ...

Ionic Radii

Ionic radius is the measure used to describe the size of an ion. A cation always has fewer electrons and the same number of protons as the parent atom; it ...

Ionization Energy

The amount of energy required to remove the most loosely bound electron from a gaseous atom in its ground state is called its first ionization energy ...

Electron Affinity

The electron affinity (EA) is the energy change for adding an electron to a gaseous atom to form an anion (negative ion).



This process can be either ...

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements are soft and shiny metallic solids. They are malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity. The melting points of the ...

Halogens

Group 17 elements, known as halogens, are nonmetals. At room temperature, fluorine and chlorine are gases, bromine is a liquid, and iodine a solid. ...

Noble Gases


The elements in group 18 are noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon). They earned the name &ldquo;noble&rdquo; because they were ...

Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms. [Clarification Statement: Examples of properties that could be predicted from patterns could include reactivity of metals, types of bonds formed, numbers of bonds formed, and reactions with oxygen.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment is limited to main group elements. Assessment does not include quantitative understanding of ionization energy beyond relative trends.]

HS-PS1-1

Chemical Reactions

A chemical reaction is a process by which the bonds in the atoms of substances are rearranged to generate new substances. Matter cannot be created or ...

Chemical Equations

Chemical equations represent the identities and relative quantities of substances involved in a chemical reaction. The substances undergoing reaction are ...

physical-and-chemical-properties-of-matter

Physical and Chemical Properties of Matter

The characteristics that enable us to distinguish one substance from another are called properties.

Physical Properties of Matter

A physical property is ...

Elements: Chemical Symbols and Isotopes

A chemical symbol is an abbreviation used to indicate an element or an atom of an element. For example, the symbol for mercury is Hg. The same symbol is ...

Predicting Reaction Outcomes

Kinetics describes the rate and path by which a reaction occurs. In contrast, thermodynamics deals with state functions and describes the properties, ...

Chemical Reactions in Aqueous Solutions

Chemical substances interact in many different ways. Certain chemical reactions exhibit common patterns of reactivity. Due to the vast number of chemical ...

Multi-Step Reactions

Chemical reactions often occur in a stepwise fashion involving two or more distinct reactions taking place in a sequence. A balanced equation indicates ...

Reaction Mechanisms

Chemical reactions often occur in a stepwise fashion, involving two or more distinct reactions taking place in a sequence. A balanced equation indicates ...

Rate-Determining Steps

Relating Reaction Mechanisms
In a multistep reaction mechanism, one of the elementary steps progresses significantly slower than the others. This slowest ...

Reaction Stoichiometry

A balanced chemical equation provides a great deal of information in a very succinct format. Chemical formulas provide the identities of the reactants and ...

Limiting Reactant

The relative amounts of reactants and products represented in a balanced chemical equation are often referred to as stoichiometric amounts. However, in ...

Reaction Yield

The theoretical yield of a reaction is the amount of product estimated to form based on the stoichiometry of the balanced chemical equation. The ...

stoichiometry-product-yield-and-limiting-reactants

Stoichiometry, Product Yield, and Limiting Reactants

Chemical equations represent how a chemical reaction proceeds from reactants to products through physical or chemical change using chemical formulas.
...

Source: Smaa Koraym at Johns Hopkins University, MD, USA

	Preparation of 25% v/v Ethylenediamine in Deionized WaterExpand
	Here, we show the laboratory ...

Source: Smaa Koraym at Johns Hopkins University, MD, USA

	Synthesis of tris(ethylenediamine)nickel chlorideExpand
	In this lab, you will combine nickel ...

Balancing Redox Equations

Electrochemistry is the science involved in the interconversion of electrical and chemical reactions. Such reactions are called reduction-oxidation, or ...

Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties. [Clarification Steatement: Examples of chemical reactions could include the reaction of sodium and chlorine, of carbon and oxygen, or of carbon and hydrogen.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment is limited to chemical reactions involving main group elements and combustion reactions.]

What is Matter?

The substance of the universe&#8212;from a grain of sand to a star&#8212;is called matter. Scientists define matter as anything that occupies space and ...

Plan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on understanding the strengths of forces between particles, not on naming specific intermolecular forces (such as dipole-dipole). Examples of particles could include ions, atoms, molecules, and networked materials (such as graphite). Examples of bulk properties of substances could include the melting point and boiling point, vapor pressure, and surface tension.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include Raoult’s law calculations of vapor pressure.]

HS-PS1-3

Classifying Matter by State

Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter is all around us; the air, ...

Classifying Matter by Composition

Matter: Pure Substances and Mixtures
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories &mdash; pure substances and ...

Bond Energies and Bond Lengths

Stable molecules exist because covalent bonds hold the atoms together. The strength of a covalent bond is measured by the energy required to break it, ...

Bonding in Metals

Metallic bonds are formed between two metal atoms. A simplified model to describe metallic bonding has been developed by Paul Dr&#xFC;de called the ...

Types of Chemical Reactions: Anabolic and Catabolic

The first law of thermodynamics holds that energy can neither be created nor destroyed&#8212;it can only change form. An organism&#39;s essential function ...

Types of Chemical Reactions: Exchange and Reversible

An exchange reaction is a chemical reaction in which both synthesis and decomposition occur, chemical bonds are both formed and broken, and chemical ...

Energy Transfer in Chemical Reactions

Chemical reactions require sufficient energy to cause the matter to collide with enough precision and force that old chemical bonds can be broken and new ...

Develop a model to illustrate that the release or absorption of energy from a chemical reaction system depends upon the changes in total bond energy. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the idea that a chemical reaction is a system that affects the energy change. Examples of models could include molecular-level drawings and diagrams of reactions, graphs showing the relative energies of reactants and products, and representations showing energy is conserved.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include calculating the total bond energy changes during a chemical reaction from the bond energies of reactants and products.]

HS-PS1-4

Atomic Identity, Mass, and Isotopes

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