Elements, isotopes & relative atomic mass

• What is an atom made up of?

  A central nucleus and orbiting electrons
• What determines which element an atom is?

  The number of protons in its nucleus
• What is the smallest element?

  Hydrogen
• How many protons does a hydrogen atom have?

  One proton
• How many protons and neutrons does helium have?

  Two protons and two neutrons
• How many elements are there approximately?

  Around 100 different elements
• What do the boxes in the periodic table represent?

  Different elements
• What is the atomic number?

  The number of protons in an atom
• What does an atomic number of two indicate?

  The element is helium
• What is the atomic number of carbon?

  Six
• If an atom has three protons, what element is it?

  Lithium
• What does the symbol 'C' stand for?

  Carbon
• What does the symbol 'Li' represent?

  Lithium
• Why is sodium represented as 'Na'?

  It comes from its Latin name 'Natrium'
• What is the definition of isotopes?

  Different forms of the same element
• What do isotopes have in common?

  The same number of protons
• What is the most common form of carbon?

  Carbon-12
• How many neutrons does carbon-13 have?

  Seven neutrons
• What is the mass number of carbon-13?

  Thirteen
• How do isotopes react chemically?


  They react in basically the same way
• What is relative atomic mass?

  The average mass of all isotopes of an element
• What are the two stable isotopes of copper?

  Copper-63 and copper-65
• What does abundance mean in the context of isotopes?

  How common or rare that isotope is
• How do you calculate the relative atomic mass of copper?

  Using isotope abundance and mass
• What is the first step in calculating relative atomic mass?

  Multiply each isotope's abundance by its mass
• What is the sum of the abundances of copper isotopes?

  100 percent
• What is the final step in calculating relative atomic mass?

  Divide the total by the sum of abundances
• What is the relative atomic mass of copper to one decimal place?

  63.6
• What does the symbol 'Ar' represent?

  Relative atomic mass
• What is the process to calculate the relative atomic mass of an element?

  1. Multiply each isotope's abundance by its mass.
  2. Sum these values.
  3. Divide by the total abundance of isotopes.
• What are the key features of nuclear symbols in the periodic table?

  • Represents different elements
  • Contains atomic number (bottom left)
  • Includes one or two letter symbols
• What are the differences between isotopes of an element?

  • Same number of protons
  • Different number of neutrons
  • Different mass numbers
• How do isotopes affect the mass of an element?

  • Different isotopes have different masses
  • Average mass is calculated from isotopes
• What is the significance of the periodic table?

  • Organizes all known elements
  • Displays atomic numbers and symbols
  • Helps identify elements and their properties