Proton & Nucleon Numbers
Physics: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 4.1.7
Proton and Nucleon Numbers
Proton numbers and nucleon numbers tell us information about atoms.
%201.1.3.2%20-%20Rutherford%20and%20Bohr_s%20atomic%20structure,w_800.png)
Proton number (Z)
- The number of protons in a nucleus tells us what element an atom is.
- For example, hydrogen atoms always have 1 proton.
Mass number (A)
- The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus.
- Atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons.
- For example, hydrogen can have 0, 1 or 2 neutrons.
Test yourself on Proton & Nucleon Numbers
What is the mass number?
Which of the following are true of proton and nucleon numbers?