Question

how can the periodic table of elements be used to find the amount of subatomic particles?
a. the atomic number gives the number of protons and electrons and the atomic mass minus the atomic number gives the number of neutrons.
b. the atomic number gives the number of protons and electrons and the atomic number minus the atomic mass gives the number of neutrons.
c. the atomic number gives the number of neutrons and electrons and the atomic mass minus the atomic number gives the number of protons.
d. the atomic number gives the number of protons and neutrons and the atomic mass minus the atomic number gives the number of electrons.

Explanation:

• The atomic number (\(Z\)) of an element is equal to the number of protons (\(p\)) in the nucleus of an atom of that element. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons (\(e\)) is equal to the number of protons.
• The atomic mass (\(A\)) is approximately equal to the sum of the number of protons (\(p\)) and neutrons (\(n\)) in the nucleus (\(A=p + n\)). So, the number of neutrons \(n=A - Z\).

Answer:

A. The atomic number gives the number of protons and electrons and the atomic mass minus the atomic number gives the number of neutrons.