Section 1 - Atomic Number, Mass Number and Isotopes

Question 1

For neutral atoms, what does the atomic number represent?

Answer 1

The number of protons/electrons

Question 2

What does the mass number represent?

Answer 2

The total number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus

Question 3

Atoms of the same element always have the same number of _______, so they’ll always have the same atomic number, but their mass numbers can vary slightly.

Answer 3

protons

Question 4

What are atoms of the same element with different mass numbers called?

Answer 4

Isotopes