Question

An atom has a mass number of 30 and 16 neutrons. What is the atomic number of this atom?

Answer 1

The mass number is the number of protons plus the number of neutrons. Since there are 16 neutrons, there are 14 protons. This also corresponds to the atomic number, so this atom's atomic number is 14 which is also Silicon

Answer 2

Answer: The atomic number of an atom is 14.

Step-by-step explanation:

Atomic number is defined as the number of protons or electrons that are present in a neutral atom.

Atomic number = number of protons = number of electrons

Mass number is defined as the sum of number of protons and neutrons that are present in an atom.

Mass number = Number of protons + Number of neutrons

We are given:

Number of neutrons = 16

Mass number = 30

Number of protons = Atomic number = Mass number - Number of neutrons = 30 - 16 = 14

Hence, the atomic number of an atom is 14.