The atoms of different elements have
A)the same atomic number and same atomic weight.
B)the same atomic number but different atomic weights.
C)different atomic numbers.
D)different atomic numbers but the same number of electrons.

Question

The atoms of different elements have
A)the same atomic number and same atomic weight.
B)the same atomic number but different atomic weights.
C)different atomic numbers.
D)different atomic numbers but the same number of electrons.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in its nucleus, which determines the element's identity. Every element has a unique atomic number, therefore option C is the correct choice. Option A is incorrect because different elements have different atomic weights, which depend on the number of protons and neutrons in their nucleus. Option B is incorrect because while different isotopes of an element have different atomic weights, all atoms of a given element have the same atomic number. Option D is incorrect because different elements have different numbers of electrons in their atoms.

The Atoms of Different Elements Have