Atomic numbers describe the number of specific atoms in a material. Atomic numbers range from one to seven, with five being the typical number in most materials. The symbol for an atom’s position in a molecule is also assigned an atomic number.
Mass numbers describe the size of particles. The unit of mass is the gram, and the unit of length is the meter, which has two seconds in a meter long line.
The ratio between long and short units of something is its atomic number. For example, gold reportedly has six times more neutrons than uranium, which has only one neutron.
Atomic numbers are used to describe materials in building comparisons. For example, when talking about whether or not a material has seven neutrons, the atomic number can be used to determine whether it is rare or not.
Mass number
The mass number, or atomic number, of a carbon is called the mass number. The more massive a carbon is, the higher the mass number.
The seven-digit mass number for carbon is 6.38. This value ranges from 6.37 to 6.39 with a mean of 6.39. There are only six values for the mass number that range from 0 to 5 with a mean of 2 and a standard deviation of 1/6 of a gram (.01 g).
The values for the mass number that range from 7 to 14 with a mean of 10 and a standard deviation of 1/10 are not found in nature but are created using radioisotopes.
Atomic number
The number of atoms in a sample of matter. Atomic numbers range from zeros to very high ones, like uranium-238, which is found in very small amounts in nature.
Carbon is one of the few elements with a small number of atoms. These tiny differences in mass between atoms create variations in the atomic number, also known as its numerical value.
The more rare an element, the higher the atomic number. The heavier elements have more positive integer values than negative ones, making it look like there are fewer elements. This is why carbon exists in minerals with only six and seven isotopes!
The seventh isotope of carbon has been called the magic number six because it makes up half of all radioactive elements. It also happens to be the most common weight for humans to be born with, usually between February and April.
Nitrogen also has multiple isotopes
Nearly every country in the world has a naturally occurring element that doesn’t occur in nature, but is produced by man. This is known as a isotope.
Isotopes differ in their spin, or type of movement a atom gets when rotating on its axis. Isotopes with the same mass but different atomic numbers have different-looking spins.
One common example is the rare earth minerals we find in our electronics and appliances. These include neodymium and praseyite, both of which have a half-value point at 7 protons and 7 neutrons.
These two materials have very specific spins that are not normal for this element. Praseyite has an imaginary line running through it that looks like a splintering of glass with a spin.
Examples of use for carbon isotopes
Carbon is the most common element in the universe, and all life on Earth depends on it. Carbon is found in trees, rock, and soil, making it an important element in the natural world.
Because of its role in biological processes, scientists use carbon-based molecules as diagnostic tests for disease.
Some drugs require carbon-containing compounds to exist as separate components before they can act. This is true for some modern drug testing methods, like gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
As a chemical engineer, you may be responsible for finding ways to use carbon atoms in different ways within a product or service. As an example, consider a new mattress that claims 100 percent more comfort than any other mattress does! You can add features that test how much comfort you want, how much you need, and how well your mattress responds to customer needs.
Calculating the atomic number and mass number
When we talk about isotopes, we talk about atomic number and mass number. Atomic number is the number of atoms in a particular atom, like 13 or 14.
Isotopes have a different atomic number. The atomic number of an isotope is the same as its table-normal (TN) carbon-isotope sequence, but it has a different mass number.
Mass numbers are not always equal to the absolute value of the atomic numbers. Mass numbers can be smaller or larger than the absolute value of the atomic numbers because they relate to density or solubility.
Carbon-isotope sequences have a standard order of magnitude for both the standard nuclear symbol (C) and notation (ab). For example, C14 is equal to 1/13 and C13E+2 is equal to 3/13.
Carbon-14 is used in dating ancient materials
Most people are familiar with carbon-14, the radioisotope that gives us the “14” in carbon. It is used in modern dating to date materials, including fossils.
But what is it? Where did it come from? And how do we tell it from other isotopes?
It is a subatomic particle called a neutron that has its own mass number and atomic number. These properties make carbon-14 special: It is the only naturally occurring element with these two numbers.
Atomic numbers are usually written with an “A” or “2,” but they are not always needed for isotopes. In this case, the number does not have one of those on it because it no longer exists as that type of atom.
Carbon-14 has no rest mass, which is how atoms get rounded off when transferring from one molecule to another. This makes it unique among the chemical elements, which have definite size and shape.
Some materials are enriched in specific carbon isotopes
Carbon is a very common element, found in almost every part of the world. Carbon is used in all sorts of materials, including steel, concrete, and breathable fabrics.
Carbon is also found in the periodic table, with six stable forms and one rare form. The rare form is called neptunium, and it cannot be found in nature.
Neptunium has the normal isotope Helium-4, but it does not occur in regular amounts to any significant degree. This makes it an interesting material to study because it can be created as a byproduct of other materials.
In fact, neptunium occurs only in one place on Earth: inside canned tuna! Once you buy that kind of food, you must use the neptunium to create new Helium-4.
Implications for humans
While there are still a few places on Earth where geothermal activity prompts the production of radioactive carbon-14, that’s a very long time ago. Now, human technology can produce atomic-number-seven carbon isotopes, allowing for more research into their effects.
This new technology is called racemization. It was developed to help scientists and patients with cancer who need a higher number of isotopes in their bodies to receive them.
Carbon-14 is not produced by nature, so when racemized materials are received in the hospital or at home, they must be chemically altered before they can become an isotope.
Atomic numbers are like letters in an acronym.
