Decoding Nuclide Symbols and Atomic Structure

What determines the element to which an atom belongs?

• Number of electrons

• Number of neutrons

• Number of protons

• Number of isotopes

What is the mass number of an atom with 6 protons and 6 neutrons?

• 18

• 24

• 12

• 6

How is the atomic number represented in a nuclide symbol?

• Bottom left

• Upper right

• Upper left

• Bottom right

What does the mass number represent?

• Number of protons and neutrons

• Number of protons

• Number of neutrons

• Number of electrons

What happens to an atom if it gains an electron?

• It becomes a positive ion

• It becomes an isotope

• It becomes a negative ion

• It becomes neutral

What is the charge of an atom with more protons than electrons?

• +2

• 0

• -1

• +1

How are elements arranged in the periodic table?

• By atomic number

• By atomic mass

• By number of electrons

• By number of neutrons

Why do atomic masses on the periodic table have decimals?

• Because of proton variations

• Because of electron mass

• Because of neutron fractions

• Because of isotopic abundance

What is the average atomic mass of chlorine if 75% is chlorine-35 and 25% is chlorine-37?

• 35

• 36

• 35.5

• 37

What must be true about the mass number of any individual atom?

• It must be an average

• It must be a decimal

• It must be a whole number

• It must be zero