An element has 8 protons and 8 neutrons in its nucleus and 8 electrons revolving around the nucleus. What is the atomic number and atomic mass of this element?

Question

A.
The atomic number is 16 and the atomic mass is 8.
B.
The atomic number is 8 and the atomic mass is 8.
C.
The atomic number is 8 and the atomic mass is 16.
D.
The atomic number is 16 and the atomic mass is 4.
E.
The atomic number is 4 and the atomic mass is 16.

Answer 1

The atomic number of an element is defined by the number of protons in its nucleus. Since the element in question has 8 protons, its atomic number is 8.

The atomic mass is approximately equal to the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. This element has 8 protons and 8 neutrons, so its atomic mass is 8 protons + 8 neutrons = 16.

Therefore, the correct answer is: C. The atomic number is 8 and the atomic mass is 16.