Chapter U1.12, Problem 4E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The one piece of information that is used to identify the elementshould be predicted.

Concept introduction:

The periodic table represents the arrangement of the elements in increasing order of their atomic number. The horizontal rows in the periodic table are known as periods while vertical columns are known as groups. There are 18 groups and 7 periods in a periodic table.

Answer to Problem 4E

The one piece of information that is used to identify the element is its atomic number or number of protons present in the nucleus.

Explanation of Solution

The mass number is equal to the sum of the number of protons and neutrons of an atom. Theatomic number tells the number of protons in a nucleus and number of electrons in an atom in neutral state.

If the number of protons in its nucleus is given then the atomic number can be predicted. The atomic number is identity of an element and no two different elements can have same atomic number. Thus, by knowing the number of protons, an element can be identified.

Conclusion

The one piece of information that is used to identify the element is its atomic number or number of protons present in the nucleus.