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NYS Chemistry Regents Review Practice - Atomic Concepts - Question 20 Print E-mail
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Practice Questions
20. An atom of fluorine has a mass of 19 atomic mass units. The total number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus is

A)    9

B)    10

C)    19

D)    28

Correct Answer: Option C - 19

The mass number (A), also called atomic mass number or nucleon number, is the total number of protons and neutrons (together known as nucleons) in an atomic nucleus. Because protons and neutrons both are baryons, the mass number A is identical with the baryon number B as of the nucleus as of the whole atom or ion. The mass number is different for each different isotope of a chemical element. This is not the same as the atomic number (Z) which denotes the number of protons in a nucleus, and thus uniquely identifies an element. Hence, the difference between the mass number and the atomic number gives the number of neutrons (N) in a given nucleus:

N=A-Z

 

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