If only an element’s atomic number and weight are provided, what other atomic information can be determined for a neutral atom?(1 point)

Question

Responses

only the valence electrons
only the valence electrons

only the number of protons and electrons
only the number of protons and electrons

only the number of protons and neutrons
only the number of protons and neutrons

the number of protons, electrons and neutrons

Answer 1

If only an element's atomic number and weight are provided, for a neutral atom, the following atomic information can be determined:

the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons.

Here's a brief explanation:

• The atomic number gives you the number of protons in a neutral atom, and since the atom is neutral, the number of electrons will be equal to the number of protons.

• The atomic weight (often approximated by the atomic mass) can help determine the number of neutrons. The formula to find the number of neutrons is:

  \[\text{Number of neutrons} = \text{Atomic mass} - \text{Number of protons}\]

So you can ascertain the number of protons, electrons, and neutrons for a neutral atom from its atomic number and weight.