Question detail
What is the atomic number of an element?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Atoms and isotopes
Question
- A. The total number of protons and neutrons.
- B. The number of neutrons in the nucleus.
- C. The number of protons in the nucleus.
- D. The number of electrons in a neutral atom.
Answer
The number of protons in the nucleus.
Explanation
The atomic number is defined as the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element's identity.
Common mistake
Misconception about chemical properties of isotopes
Students often think that isotopes of the same element have different chemical properties because they contain different numbers of neutrons.
Explain that chemical properties are determined by the arrangement of electrons, which is the same for all isotopes of an element. Neutrons only affect the mass and nuclear stability, not the electron configuration or chemical behaviour.
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