5
What is an isotope of an atom?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons.
6 p⁺
6 e⁻
6 n⁰
7 p⁺
7 e⁻
7 n⁰
8 p⁺
8 e⁻
8 n⁰
These are like different “versions” of carbon! These atoms of carbon all exist in nature, but the most common isotope of carbon is Carbon-12.
What does the -12, -13, and -14 written after the element name tell you? This is called isotopic notation.
6
What information do Periodic Table squares provide about elements?
State at Room Temperature
Some periodic tables tell you the state of matter of the element at room temperature.
Chemical Symbol
A one or two letter symbol that identifies the element. The first letter is always capitalized.
Element Name
The elements are named using Latin and Greek word roots based on their properties, after scientists, after places, and after mythological figures.
Atomic #
The Atomic Number is like the ‘ID’ number of the element. It tells how many protons the atoms of that element have.
Atomic Mass
The weighted average mass of all isotopes of the element.
Mass Number
The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons.
To figure out the number of neutrons in an atom’s most common isotope, round the atomic mass on the periodic table to the nearest whole number. 18.998 rounds to → 19. Then, subtract the number of protons (the atomic number). 19 subtract 9 → 10. So, fluorine atoms have 10 neutrons.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of how to read the periodic table worksheet.
