Each nuclide is denoted by chemical symbol of the element (this specifies Z) with tha atomic mass number as supescript. The various species of atoms whose nuclei contain particular numbers of protons and neutrons are called nuclides. Nuclides that have the same neutron number but a different proton number are called isotones. Neutron number is rarely written explicitly in nuclide symbol notation, but appears as a subscript to the right of the element symbol. The difference between the neutron number and the atomic number is known as the neutron excess: D = N – Z = A – 2Z. Neutron number plus atomic number equals atomic mass number: N+Z=A. The total number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom is called the neutron number of the atom and is given the symbol N. Mass numbers of typical isotopes of Chlorine are 35 37. Neutron Number and Mass Number of Chlorine This fact has key implications for the building up of the periodic table of elements. The ordering of the electrons in the ground state of multielectron atoms, starts with the lowest energy state (ground state) and moves progressively from there up the energy scale until each of the atom’s electrons has been assigned a unique set of quantum numbers. It is the Pauli exclusion principle that requires the electrons in an atom to occupy different energy levels instead of them all condensing in the ground state. In the periodic table, the elements are listed in order of increasing atomic number Z. The number of electrons in each element’s electron shells, particularly the outermost valence shell, is the primary factor in determining its chemical bonding behavior. The configuration of these electrons follows from the principles of quantum mechanics. The chemical properties of the atom are determined by the number of protons, in fact, by number and arrangement of electrons. See also: Atomic Number – Does it conserve in a nuclear reaction? Atomic Number and Chemical PropertiesĮvery solid, liquid, gas, and plasma is composed of neutral or ionized atoms. It is the electrons that are responsible for the chemical bavavior of atoms, and which identify the various chemical elements.

In a neutral atom there are as many electrons as protons moving about nucleus. The total electrical charge of the nucleus is therefore +Ze, where e (elementary charge) equals to 1,602 x 10 -19 coulombs. Total number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number of the atom and is given the symbol Z.

The nucleus is composed of protons and neutrons. The atom consist of a small but massive nucleus surrounded by a cloud of rapidly moving electrons. Chlorine is a chemical element with atomic number 17 which means there are 17 protons and 17 electrons in the atomic structure.

Periodic table reactive metals