Joan and Mike's teacher show them a picture of an atom and ask them to identify it using the periodic table. Joan says the atom is Carbon, but Mike says it is Lithium. Who is right and why
Answers
Answered by
11
Well we can't see the picture that the teacher has, and we have to figure out what's in the picture from some clues in the answer choices. The picture seems to show an atom with 3 protons and 3 neutrons in the nucleus, and 3 electrons whizzing around the nucleus.
If that's what's in the picture, then Mike is correct (first choice), because the atomic number shows the number of protons in all atoms. There are 3 protons and the atomic number of lithium is 3.
Second choice . . . False, because electrons are not involved in the atomic mass.
Third and fourth choices . . . both false; sadly, Joan is woefully unclear on the concepts.
Similar questions