Mass number is an integer equal to the sum of the number of protons and neutrons of an atomic nucleus. The mass number allows enable us to tell the difference between elements with a different number of neutrons, called isotopes. The mass number is a count and is unitless. Formula to calculate mass number. The mass number of an atom is its total number of protons and neutrons. Atoms of different elements usually have different mass numbers, but they can be the same. For example, the mass number of.
Mass number is an integer equal to the sum of the number of protons and neutrons of an atomic nucleus.
The mass number allows enable us to tell the difference between elements with a different number of neutrons, called isotopes.
The mass number is a count and is unitless.
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Formula to calculate mass number.
Example 1:
The hydrogen atom doesn’t have a neutron but it has 1 proton, so the mass number of hydrogen is 1.


Example 2:
Oxygen atom has 8 protons and 8 neutrons. Determine the mass number.
Thus, oxygen atom mass number is 16.
