1.2 Elements, Isotopes & Relative Atomic Mass

• What is an atom made up of?

  An atom is made up of a central nucleus comprising protons and neutrons, with electrons orbiting around it.
• What determines which element an atom is?

  The number of protons in the nucleus determines which element an atom is.
• What is the smallest element?

  The smallest element is hydrogen.
• How many protons does a hydrogen atom have?

  A hydrogen atom has one proton in its nucleus.
• How many protons and neutrons does a helium atom have?

  A helium atom has two protons and two neutrons in its nucleus.
• What is the periodic table?

  The periodic table organizes around 100 different elements, with each box representing a different element.
• What does the number in the bottom left of a nuclear symbol represent?

  The number in the bottom left of a nuclear symbol is the atomic number, which is unique to that element.
• What does the atomic number indicate?

  The atomic number indicates the number of protons in the atoms of that element.
• If an atom has two protons, what element is it?

  If an atom has two protons, it must be helium.
• What is the atomic number of carbon?

  The atomic number of carbon is six.
• What happens if an atom has three protons?

  If an atom has three protons, it cannot be carbon; it must be lithium.
• What does the symbol 'C' represent?

  The symbol 'C' represents carbon.
• What does the symbol 'Li' stand for?

  The symbol 'Li' stands for lithium.
• What are isotopes?

  Isotopes are different forms of the same element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.
• What is the most common form of carbon?

  The most common form of carbon is carbon-12.
• How many protons and neutrons does carbon-12 have?

  Carbon-12 has six protons and six neutrons.
• What is carbon-13?

  Carbon-13 is an isotope of carbon that has six protons and seven neutrons.
• What is the mass number of carbon-13?

  The mass number of carbon-13 is 13.
• How do isotopes react chemically?

  Isotopes react chemically in basically the same way because they have the same number of protons.
• What is relative atomic mass?

  Relative atomic mass is the average mass of all the isotopes that make up a particular element.
• How do you calculate the relative atomic mass of copper?

  You calculate it by summing the isotope abundance times isotope mass divided by the sum of the abundances of all isotopes.
• What does abundance mean in the context of isotopes?

  Abundance refers to how common or rare a particular isotope is.
• What is the abundance of copper-63?

  The abundance of copper-63 is 69.2 percent.
• What is the abundance of copper-65?

  The abundance of copper-65 is 30.8 percent.
• How do you find the total abundance of isotopes?

  The total abundance of isotopes is found by adding the abundances of all isotopes together.
• What is the first step in calculating the relative atomic mass of copper?

  The first step is to multiply each isotope's abundance by its mass.
• What is the sum of the abundances of copper isotopes?

  The sum of the abundances of copper isotopes is 100 percent.
• What is the final relative atomic mass of copper rounded to one decimal place?

  The final relative atomic mass of copper is 63.6.
• What symbol denotes relative atomic mass?

  The symbol that denotes relative atomic mass is 'Ar'.
• What does the average mass of a copper atom represent?

  The average mass of a copper atom represents the relative atomic mass of copper.