2.3 Atomic Number and Mass Number
Section 1 of 3
What Is the Atomic Number?
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The atomic number of an atom is the number of protons it has in its nucleus. This number is unique for each element and defines the element's identity. For example, hydrogen has an atomic number of 1 because it has one proton, while carbon has an atomic number of 6 because it has six protons. The atomic number also determines an atom's position on the periodic table, making it an essential property in chemistry.
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