How to find Atomic Number?

The atomic number of an element is the number of protons present in one atom. In this article, we will study about atomic number and how can it be determined.

Atomic Number- Definition

The atomic number of an element is the number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom of that element. It is a unique property of an element and determines the chemical properties of the element. The atomic number is used to arrange elements in the periodic table and is used as a basis for defining the number of electrons in an atom of that element. Elements with the same atomic number are referred to as isotopes and have the same number of protons and electrons, but may have different numbers of neutrons and therefore different atomic masses.

2. Notation of Atomic Number

atomic number notation — Atomic Number Notation

The notation for an atomic number is Z. It is usually represented as a subscript to the left of the element symbol. In the periodic table, the atomic number is typically listed above the symbol for the element. For example, the symbol for Nitrogen is "N" and the atomic number is listed as "7".

atomic symbol notation — Atomic Symbol Notation

Note:

The atomic number should not to be confused with the atomic mass or atomic weight.

3. Can an Atomic Number of an Element Change?

The atomic number of an element can also be defined as the number of electrons present in the neutral atom of that element. Atomic number of an element = Number of electrons Only a neutral atom contains the same number of electrons and protons. Therefore, the atomic number of an element can also be equal to the number of electrons in the neutral atom and not in the ion. An ion is formed by removing electrons from a neutral atom or adding electrons to a neutral atom, and thus contains either fewer or more electrons than protons. Only the electron of an atom participates in chemical reactions, and the protons do not participate. So, while the number of electrons may vary during a chemical reaction, only the number of protons remains constant. As a result, the atomic number does not change during a chemical reaction and remains constant. Also Refer: What are Protons?

4. Importance of Atomic Number

The atomic number of an element is an important concept in chemistry and physics because it provides a means of uniquely identifying and classifying elements. The following are some of the key importance of the atomic number:

Determines the chemical properties of an element: The atomic number of an element determines the number of electrons in the neutral atom of that element, which in turn determines the chemical properties and reactivity of the element.
Arranging elements in the periodic table: The atomic number of an element is used to arrange elements in the periodic table. The elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, which allows for the prediction of the chemical and physical properties of elements based on their position in the periodic table.
Determine the number of isotopes: The atomic number of an element determines the number of isotopes that can exist for that element. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different atomic masses.
Used in nuclear physics: The atomic number is also important in the study of nuclear physics, as it determines the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom and influences the stability and decay of the nucleus.
Identification of elements in compounds: The atomic number is used to identify the elements present in a compound and to calculate the chemical formula for the compound.

5. How to find Atomic Number?

The atomic number is the total number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom of that element. It is a unique property of an element and determines the chemical properties of the element.

To find the atomic number of an element, you can consult a periodic table of elements. The periodic table is arranged in an increasing order of atomic number, so you can simply look up the element you are interested in and find its atomic number listed next to its symbol.
Alternatively, the atomic number can also be determined on the basis of the number of electrons in the neutral atom of that element. The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal/ same to the number of protons, which is the atomic number.

5. Atomic Number of s and p block elements

Below given is the list of Atomic number of s and p block elements:

Element	Symbol	No. of protons	No. of electrons	Atomic Number	Block
Hydrogen	H	1	1	1	S block
Helium	He	2	2	2	S block
Lithium	Li	3	3	3	S block
Beryllium	Be	4	4	4	S block
Boron	B	5	5	5	P block
Carbon	C	6	6	6	P block
Nitrogen	N	7	7	7	P block
Oxygen	O	8	8	8	P block
Fluorine	F	9	9	9	P block
Neon	Ne	10	10	10	P block
Sodium	Na	11	11	11	S block
Magnesium	Mg	12	12	12	S block
Aluminium	Al	13	13	13	P block
Silicon	Si	14	14	14	P block
Phosphorus	P	15	15	15	P block
Sulfur	S	16	16	16	P block
Chlorine	Cl	17	17	17	P block
Argon	Ar	18	18	18	P block
Potassium	K	19	19	19	S block
Calcium	Ca	20	20	20	S block
Gallium	Ga	31	31	31	P block
Germanium	Ge	32	32	32	P block
Arsenic	As	33	33	33	P block
Selenium	Se	34	34	34	P block
Bromine	Br	35	35	35	P block
Krypton	Kr	36	36	36	P block
Rubidium	Rb	37	37	37	S block
Strontium	Sr	38	38	38	S block
Indium	In	49	49	49	P block
Tin	Sn	50	50	50	P block
Antimony	Sb	51	51	51	P block
Tellurium	Te	52	52	52	P block
Iodine	I	53	53	53	P block
Xenon	Xe	54	54	54	P block
Cesium	Cs	55	55	55	S block
Barium	Ba	56	56	56	S block
Thallium	Tl	81	81	81	P block
Lead	Pb	82	82	82	P block
Bismuth	Bi	83	83	83	P block
Polonium	Po	84	84	84	P block
Astatine	At	85	85	85	P block
Radon	Rn	86	86	86	P block
Francium	Fr	87	87	87	S block
Radium	Ra	88	88	88	S block
Nihonium	Nh	113	113	113	P block
Flerovium	Fl	114	114	114	P block
Moscovium	Mc	115	115	115	P block
Livermorium	Lv	116	116	116	P block
Tennessine	Ts	117	117	117	P block
Oganesson	Og	118	118	118	P block

Key Takeaways

The atomic number of an element is the number of protons present in one atom.
In a neutral atom, atomic number can also be the number of electrons of an atom.
An atomic number is denoted by the letter Z which is written at the subscript on the left side of the chemical symbol.
The atomic number is an essential concept in the study of chemistry and physics, providing a means of identifying and classifying elements and determining their chemical and physical properties.

FAQs

1. How to determine the atomic number of an element?

The atomic number of an element is the total number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom of that element. This number is a fundamental property of an element and cannot be changed through chemical reactions.

2. Can the atomic number change?

No, the atomic number of an element cannot change. The atomic number is a unique property of an element and determines the chemical and physical properties of the element.

3. What would happen if an atom gains or loses protons?

If an atom gains or loses protons, it will become a different element. This process is known as nuclear decay and is a fundamental aspect of nuclear physics. The addition or removal of a proton changes the atomic number of the element and its chemical and physical properties.

4. How does the atomic number relate to isotopes?

Isotopes are atoms of the same element having the same number of protons, but differs in the numbers of neutrons. The atomic number of a particular element is the same as that of the number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom, and determines the number of isotopes that can exist for that element.

5. How does the atomic number relate to the electron configuration of an element?

The electron configuration of an element is determined by the number of electrons in the neutral atom of that element, which is equal to the atomic number of the element. The electron configuration of an element determines its chemical and physical properties.

Conclusion

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