Q.Calculate the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in 3580Br.
Concept understanding — Atomic Notation
Atomic Notation: The ID Card of an Atom
Imagine you're at a huge stadium filled with people. To identify any one person, you'd need more than just a name — you'd need their jersey number, their team, maybe their position. An atom is the same way. Just saying "carbon" or "oxygen" tells you the kind of atom, but not the full story. Atomic notation is the shorthand that gives you the complete identity.
The Intuition: Three Numbers, One Symbol
Every atom is built from three key particles:
- Protons (positive charge) — these define what element it is.
- Neutrons (no charge) — these add mass and stability.
- Electrons (negative charge) — these orbit the nucleus and determine chemical behaviour.
Atomic notation packs all this information around the element's symbol. Think of it as a label with two numbers attached:
ZAX
Where:
- X is the element symbol (e.g., C for carbon, O for oxygen).
- Z is the atomic number (number of protons).
- A is the mass number (protons + neutrons).
The atomic number Z is what makes an atom that element. Change Z, and you change the element entirely. Carbon always has Z=6; if you change it to 7, it's nitrogen.
The Precise Statement
For any atom represented as ZAX:
- Atomic number Z = number of protons = number of electrons (in a neutral atom).
- Mass number A = number of protons + number of neutrons.
- Number of neutrons N=A−Z.
A neutral atom has equal protons and electrons. If the atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion — but the notation for the nucleus stays the same.
Example: Carbon-12
The most common carbon atom is written as:
612C
From this:
- Z=6 → 6 protons, and in a neutral atom, 6 electrons.
- A=12 → total nucleons (protons + neutrons) = 12.
- Neutrons N=12−6=6.
Why Two Numbers? Why Not Just One?
If you only knew the mass number A, you wouldn't know the element — because different elements can have the same mass number (e.g., 14C and 14N both have A=14). If you only knew the atomic number Z, you wouldn't know how many neutrons are present — and that matters for isotopes.
Isotopes are atoms of the same element (same Z) with different numbers of neutrons (different A). For example:
- 612C (6 neutrons)
- 613C (7 neutrons)
- 614C (8 neutrons) All are carbon, but they have different masses and some are radioactive.
A Quick Table for Clarity
| Notation | Element | Protons (Z) | Neutrons (N) | Mass Number (A) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11H | Hydrogen | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 24He | Helium | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 1123Na | Sodium | 11 | 12 | 23 |
| 92235U | Uranium | 92 | 143 | 235 |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't confuse A and Z. Z is always the smaller number (protons), A is the larger (total nucleons).
- Don't assume A equals atomic mass. Atomic mass is an average of all isotopes, not the mass number of a single atom.
- Don't forget that Z defines the element. If you see 714N, that's nitrogen — not carbon, even though A=14 is the same as carbon-14.
The Bottom Line
Atomic notation ZAX is the atom's ID card. It tells you:
- What element (via Z)
- Which isotope (via A)
- How many neutrons (via A−Z)
Once you can read this notation, you can decode the entire nuclear structure of any atom in a single glance.
Atomic notation, writing an element with its mass number and atomic number, is introduced early in the NCERT Class 11 Chemistry chapter on Structure of Atom, and "atomic notation definition, formula and examples" is a common search among students building their fundamentals for CBSE boards, JEE Main, and NEET. This notation is also used constantly in the Class 12 Physics Nuclei chapter, making it one of the most cross-referenced basics in PCM/PCB exam preparation.
The key idea is Atomic Notation: the superscript is the mass number (A = protons + neutrons), and the subscript is the atomic number (Z = protons = electrons in a neutral atom).
Step 1: Identify Z=35. This gives the number of protons = 35.
Step 2: For a neutral atom, electrons = protons = 35.
Step 3: Mass number A=80. Neutrons = A−Z=80−35=45.
The atom has 35 protons, 45 neutrons, and 35 electrons.
The atomic notation 3580Br tells us everything: the atomic number (35) gives protons and electrons, and the mass number (80) minus atomic number gives neutrons. So this bromine atom has 35 protons, 35 electrons, and 45 neutrons.
Why Atomic Notation Works
The notation ZAX is a compact code. The symbol X is the element symbol. The subscript Z is the atomic number — the number of protons in the nucleus. For a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons. The superscript A is the mass number — the total number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus.
So the moment you see 3580Br, you already know:
- Z=35 → 35 protons
- Since it's a neutral atom → 35 electrons
- A=80 → protons + neutrons = 80
The only thing left is to find the neutrons.
Step-by-Step
-
Identify the atomic number.
The subscript is 35. That's the number of protons. Every bromine atom has 35 protons — that's what makes it bromine.
Protons=35
-
Find the electrons.
The problem doesn't mention an ion (no charge is shown), so this is a neutral atom. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons.
Electrons=35
-
Calculate the neutrons.
The mass number (superscript) is 80. This is the sum of protons and neutrons.
Neutrons=A−Z=80−35=45
A common mistake is to confuse the mass number with atomic mass. The mass number is always a whole number (count of nucleons), while atomic mass (like 79.904 u for bromine) is an average that includes isotopes. Here, 3580Br is a specific isotope, so use the whole numbers directly.
You can check your work: protons + neutrons should equal the mass number. 35+45=80 — correct. Also, for a neutral atom, the sum of protons and electrons is 35+35=70, which is not directly useful but confirms you haven't mixed up the numbers.
The bromine-80 atom contains 35 protons, 35 electrons, and 45 neutrons.
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-09-AN1 markMCQQ.The element with atomic number 114 has outer shell electron configuration as that of element 'X'. What is X? (A) Ar (B) Ge (C) Se (D) Ti
›Reveal solutionSolution
The element with atomic number 114 belongs to Group 14 (carbon family) and has the same outer shell electron configuration as lead (Pb). The correct answer is (B) Ge.
The key here is understanding how the periodic table is built. Atomic number 114 is far beyond the elements you normally study, but the periodic table's structure repeats in blocks — s, p, d, f — so you can figure out its group just by counting.
Every element in a given group has the same outer shell electron configuration (the same number of valence electrons in the same type of orbital). So if element 114 has the same outer configuration as element X, they must belong to the same group. The question is: which group?
Let’s work it out.
-
Find the period of element 114.
The periods fill in order:
- Period 1: 2 elements (H, He)
- Period 2: 8 elements (Li–Ne)
- Period 3: 8 elements (Na–Ar)
- Period 4: 18 elements (K–Kr)
- Period 5: 18 elements (Rb–Xe)
- Period 6: 32 elements (Cs–Rn) — includes the 4f block (14 lanthanides)
- Period 7: 32 elements (Fr–Og) — includes the 5f block (14 actinides)
Cumulative count up to period 6:
2+8+8+18+18+32=86 (that’s radon, Rn).
So element 114 is in period 7, because 86 + 32 = 118, and 114 falls within that range.
-
Locate element 114 within period 7.
Period 7 starts with Fr (87) and Ra (88). Then come the 5f elements (actinides): atomic numbers 89–102 (14 elements). After that, the 6d block starts.
- 87–88: s-block (Groups 1 and 2)
- 89–102: f-block (actinides) — these are placed below the main table
- 103–112: d-block (transition metals, Groups 3–12)
- 113–118: p-block (Groups 13–18)
So element 114 is in the p-block. Count from 113 (Group 13):
- 113: Group 13
- 114: Group 14
- 115: Group 15
- 116: Group 16
- 117: Group 17
- 118: Group 18
Therefore, element 114 is in Group 14 (the carbon family).
-
Identify element X with the same outer configuration.
Group 14 elements have the outer electron configuration ns2np2. The common members are C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb. Among the options:
- Ar (Group 18) — 3s23p6
- Ge (Group 14) — 4s24p2
- Se (Group 16) — 4s24p4
- Ti (Group 4) — 4s23d2
Only Ge is in Group 14. So element 114 has the same outer shell configuration as germanium.
Watch outA common mistake is to think of "outer shell" as the same period or same block. But "outer shell electron configuration" means the same number and type of valence electrons — that is, same group. Don’t confuse it with being in the same row.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B) Ge.
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- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-11-AN1 markMCQQ.Empirical formula weight of borazine is (At. wt: H = 1 u, B = 10.8 u, N = 14 u) (A) 13.0 (B) 13.4 (C) 26.8 (D) 40.2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The empirical formula weight is the sum of the atomic masses in the simplest whole‑number ratio of atoms. For borazine (B₃N₃H₆), the empirical formula is BNH₂, whose weight is 10.8 + 14 + 2 = 26.8 u. The correct option is (C).
The key idea is that “empirical formula weight” means the mass of the simplest ratio of elements, not the molecular formula. Borazine’s molecular formula is B₃N₃H₆ (a cyclic compound analogous to benzene), but the empirical formula is the reduced ratio: B : N : H = 1 : 1 : 2, i.e., BNH₂.
Why this works:
The empirical formula is the smallest whole‑number ratio of atoms in a compound. The empirical formula weight is just the sum of the atomic masses for that ratio. Many students mistakenly use the molecular formula (B₃N₃H₆) and get a larger number, but the question specifically asks for the empirical formula weight.
Let’s work it out:
-
Identify the molecular formula of borazine.
Borazine is B₃N₃H₆ — three boron, three nitrogen, and six hydrogen atoms.
-
Find the simplest whole‑number ratio.
Divide all subscripts by the greatest common factor, which is 3:
33:33:36=1:1:2
So the empirical formula is BNH2.
-
Calculate the empirical formula weight.
Use the given atomic masses:
- Boron: 10.8u
- Nitrogen: 14u
- Hydrogen: 1u×2=2u
Sum:
10.8+14+2=26.8u
- Match with the options. The result 26.8 u corresponds to option (C).
Watch outA common mistake is to compute the molecular formula weight (B₃N₃H₆ = 3×10.8 + 3×14 + 6×1 = 32.4 + 42 + 6 = 80.4 u) and then look for a match — but that’s not what “empirical” means. Always reduce to the simplest ratio first.
TipIf you ever forget: “empirical” = “experimentally simplest ratio”. For any compound, just divide all subscripts by their GCD. For borazine, that’s 3, giving BNH₂.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
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- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-02-FN1 markMCQQ.The radius of stationary state (n=2) of hydrogen atom is x pm. The radius of stationary state (n=3) of He+ ion (in pm) is (A) 8x9 (B) 89x (C) 916x (D) 16x9
›Reveal solutionSolution
The radius of a Bohr orbit scales as n2/Z; using the given n=2 hydrogen radius x, the n=3 He⁺ radius becomes 89x, so option (B) is correct.
The key idea is the Bohr radius formula for hydrogen-like atoms:
rn=Zn2a0
where a0 is the Bohr radius (the n=1 radius for hydrogen, Z=1).
For hydrogen, Z=1; for He⁺, Z=2.
We are told the n=2 hydrogen radius is x pm. That gives us a direct relation to a0. Then we compute the n=3 He⁺ radius in terms of x.
- Write the general formula For a hydrogen-like atom with nuclear charge Z, the radius of the n-th stationary state is
rn=Zn2a0,
where a0≈52.9 pm is the Bohr radius (the n=1 radius for H).
- Use the given data for hydrogen For hydrogen (Z=1), the n=2 radius is
r2(H)=122a0=4a0.
This is given as x pm, so
4a0=x⇒a0=4x.
- Find the radius for He⁺ For He⁺ (Z=2), the n=3 radius is
r3(He+)=232a0=29a0.
Substitute a0=x/4:
r3(He+)=29⋅4x=89x.
- Check the options The result 89x matches option (B).
Watch outA common mistake is to forget that the given x is for n=2 hydrogen, not for n=1. If you mistakenly set a0=x, you’d get 29x, which is not among the options — a good sanity check.
TipNotice that the ratio of radii for two different (n,Z) states is r2r1=n22Z1n12Z2. Here, directly:
r2(H)r3(He+)=22⋅232⋅1=89,
so r3(He+)=89x — no need to find a0 explicitly.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (B).
ANSWER: B
- TG EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-04-29-FN1 markMCQQ.Among noble gases, the most abundant one in atmosphere is (A) He (B) Ne (C) Ar (D) Kr
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is the known atmospheric composition of noble gases — argon is the most abundant noble gas in Earth's atmosphere, making up nearly 1% of dry air. The correct option is (C).
The question tests a straightforward factual recall from environmental chemistry: the relative abundance of noble gases in the atmosphere. Noble gases are all present in trace amounts, but their proportions vary significantly. Argon dominates because it is produced by the radioactive decay of potassium-40 in the Earth's crust and is chemically inert, so it accumulates over time.
-
Recall the atmospheric composition of noble gases.
Dry air (by volume) contains roughly:
- Argon: ~0.934%
- Neon: ~0.0018%
- Helium: ~0.00052%
- Krypton: ~0.00011%
- Xenon: ~0.000009%
Argon is clearly the most abundant, by a factor of about 500 over the next most common (neon).
-
Eliminate the other options.
- Helium (A) is abundant in the universe but scarce in the atmosphere because it escapes Earth's gravity.
- Neon (B) is less than 0.002% — far behind argon.
- Krypton (D) is even rarer, at about 0.0001%.
-
Confirm the reasoning.
Argon's high abundance is due to its continuous production from the decay of 40K (half-life ~1.25 billion years) and its inertness, which prevents it from being removed by chemical reactions. No other noble gas has such a significant terrestrial source.
Watch outA common mistake is to pick helium because it is the most abundant noble gas in the universe. The question specifically asks about the atmosphere, not the cosmos. In air, argon is the clear winner.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C) Ar.
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- TG EAPCET 2024Set ap-2024-05-08-FN1 markMCQQ.Among the following, the molecule in which all atoms obey octet rule is (A) BCl3 (B) BeH2 (C) SF6 (D) SCl2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The octet rule requires each atom (except H) to be surrounded by 8 electrons in its valence shell. Only SCl2 satisfies this for all atoms, making (D) the correct answer.
The octet rule is a fundamental guideline in chemical bonding: atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons to achieve a stable configuration of 8 valence electrons (like a noble gas). Hydrogen is an exception — it needs only 2 electrons (a duplet). When checking a molecule, you must count the total electrons around each atom, including both bonding pairs and lone pairs. A molecule "obeys the octet rule" only if every atom (except H) has exactly 8 electrons in its valence shell.
Let’s examine each option one by one.
-
Option (A): BCl3
Boron is in group 13 and has 3 valence electrons. It forms three single bonds with three chlorine atoms. Each bond contributes 1 electron from boron and 1 from chlorine, so boron gets 3 (its own) + 3 (from bonds) = 6 electrons. That’s an incomplete octet — boron is electron-deficient. Chlorine atoms each have 7 valence electrons; after one bond, they have 6 lone pairs (2 electrons each) plus the bonding pair, totalling 8. So chlorine obeys the octet, but boron does not. Hence, BCl3 fails.
-
Option (B): BeH2
Beryllium has 2 valence electrons and forms two single bonds with hydrogen. Each bond gives beryllium 1 electron from each hydrogen, so beryllium ends up with 2 (its own) + 2 (from bonds) = 4 electrons. That’s far short of 8 — beryllium is another common exception (it often forms stable compounds with only 4 electrons). Hydrogen, with one bond, has 2 electrons (duplet satisfied). So BeH2 does not obey the octet for Be.
-
Option (C): SF6
Sulfur has 6 valence electrons. It forms six single bonds with six fluorine atoms. Each bond gives sulfur 1 electron from each fluorine, so sulfur gets 6 (its own) + 6 (from bonds) = 12 electrons. This is an expanded octet — sulfur can use its d-orbitals to accommodate more than 8 electrons. Fluorine atoms each have 7 valence electrons; after one bond, they have 6 lone pairs (8 electrons total). So fluorine obeys the octet, but sulfur does not. SF6 violates the octet rule.
-
Option (D): SCl2
Sulfur has 6 valence electrons. It forms two single bonds with two chlorine atoms. Each bond gives sulfur 1 electron from each chlorine, so sulfur gets 6 (its own) + 2 (from bonds) = 8 electrons. That’s a perfect octet. Additionally, sulfur has two lone pairs (4 electrons) left over, which are already counted in its 6 original electrons — the total around sulfur is 8. Each chlorine has 7 valence electrons; after one bond, it has 6 lone pairs (3 lone pairs × 2 electrons = 6) plus the bonding pair, totalling 8. All atoms — sulfur and both chlorines — have complete octets. SCl2 obeys the octet rule.
Watch outA common mistake is to think that because sulfur is in period 3, it always expands its octet. In SCl2, sulfur uses only two bonds and keeps two lone pairs — it stays at exactly 8 electrons. Don’t assume expansion; count the electrons around each atom.
TipFor quick checking: count the total valence electrons in the molecule, then assign bonding pairs and lone pairs. If any central atom (other than H) ends up with fewer than 8 or more than 8 electrons, the octet is violated. In SCl2, the central S has 6 valence electrons + 2 from bonds = 8 — a clean octet.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D) SCl2.
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- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-10-AN1 markMCQQ.Assertion (A): The ionic radii of NaX+ and FX− are same Reason (R): Both NaX+ and FX− are isoelectronic species The correct answer is (A) (A) and (R) are correct. (R) is the correct explanation of (A) (B) (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A) (C) (A) is correct but (R) is not correct (D) (A) is not correct but (R) is correct
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both ions have 10 electrons (Reason true), but the higher nuclear charge of NaX+ (Z=11 vs 9) pulls those electrons in, so its radius is much smaller — the Assertion is false. Option (D).
The concept first
Isoelectronic species have the same number of electrons but different nuclear charges. Since the electron count — and hence the screening — is identical, the only variable left is Z. The size of the ion is then governed by
Zeff=Z−σ,
with σ (screening) essentially the same across the series. A larger Z therefore means a larger pull on the same electron cloud, and a smaller ion.
Step 1 — Check the electron counts
NaX+:11−1=10 electrons,FX−:9+1=10 electrons.
Both have the configuration 1s22s22p6 (neon-like). The Reason (R) is correct.
Step 2 — Compare the nuclear charges
Z(NaX+)=11,Z(FX−)=9.
Ten electrons held by +11 are squeezed harder than ten electrons held by +9.
Step 3 — Compare the radii
r(FX−)≈136 pm>r(NaX+)≈95 pm.
The two radii are far from equal, so the Assertion (A) is incorrect. The general trend across an isoelectronic series (all 10 electrons) is
NX3−>OX2−>FX−>Ne>NaX+>MgX2+>AlX3+,
radius falling steadily as Z increases.
Step 4 — Map to the options
(A) false, (R) true — that is option (D).
✓Final answerThe two ions are isoelectronic (R true) but not of equal radius (A false), so the correct option is (D).
ANSWER: D
- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-13-FN1 markMCQQ.The radius of first Bohr orbit of hydrogen atom is same as that of orbit (n) of hydrogen like species X. (n) and X respectively are (A) (2), Li2+ (B) (3), Li2+ (C) (2), Be3+ (D) (2), He+
›Reveal solutionSolution
The radius of the first Bohr orbit of hydrogen is a0=0.529A˚. For a hydrogen-like ion with nuclear charge Z, the radius of the nth orbit is rn=Zn2a0. Setting rn=a0 gives n2=Z. Checking the options, only n=2, Z=4 (Be³⁺) satisfies this, so the correct choice is (C).
Concept & Intuition
The Bohr model gives the radius of an electron orbit in a hydrogen-like atom as proportional to n2 (the square of the principal quantum number) and inversely proportional to the nuclear charge Z. For hydrogen (Z=1), the first orbit (n=1) has a specific radius called the Bohr radius a0. The problem asks: for which hydrogen-like ion does some orbit n have exactly this same radius? That means the factor Zn2 must equal 1. So we need n2=Z. Among the options, we look for a pair (n,Z) where Z is the atomic number of the ion (after removing all electrons but one) and n is a small integer.
Step-by-step reasoning
- Recall the Bohr radius formula For a hydrogen-like atom (one electron, nuclear charge Ze), the radius of the nth orbit is
rn=Zn2a0,
where a0=0.529A˚ is the Bohr radius (the radius of the n=1 orbit in hydrogen).
- Set the condition We want rn (for the ion X) to equal a0 (the first Bohr orbit of H). So:
Zn2a0=a0⇒Zn2=1⇒n2=Z.
-
Interpret Z for the ion
The ion X is hydrogen-like, meaning it has only one electron. Its nuclear charge Z is the atomic number of the element. For example:
- He⁺: Z=2
- Li²⁺: Z=3
- Be³⁺: Z=4
-
Check each option
- (A) n=2, Li²⁺ (Z=3): n2=4, Z=3 → not equal.
- (B) n=3, Li²⁺ (Z=3): n2=9, Z=3 → not equal.
- (C) n=2, Be³⁺ (Z=4): n2=4, Z=4 → equal!
- (D) n=2, He⁺ (Z=2): n2=4, Z=2 → not equal.
-
Conclusion
Only option (C) satisfies n2=Z. So the orbit number is n=2 and the species is Be³⁺.
TipA common mistake is to forget that Z is the nuclear charge, not the number of electrons. For Be³⁺, the atom is beryllium (Z=4) with three electrons removed, leaving one electron — exactly hydrogen-like.
Watch outDo not confuse the “first Bohr orbit of hydrogen” with the first orbit of the ion. The condition is that the numerical value of the radius is the same, not that n must be 1 for the ion.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
- TG EAPCET 2022Set ap-2022-07-31-FN1 markMCQQ.Match the following. Atomic number IUPAC Symbol A) 103 I) Mt B) 107 II) Bh C) 109 III) Lr D) 111 IV) Ds V) Rg The correct match is (A) A B C D II III V IV (B) A B C D III I II IV (C) A B C D II V IV I (D) A B C D III II I V
›Reveal solutionSolution
This question tests knowledge of IUPAC element symbols for transactinides (elements 103–111). The correct mapping is: 103 = Lr, 107 = Bh, 109 = Mt, 111 = Rg, so the matching sequence is A–III, B–II, C–I, D–V, which corresponds to option (D).
The key concept here is the systematic naming of superheavy elements by IUPAC. Elements with atomic numbers 103 and above have official one- or three-letter symbols that are not always obvious from their English names. The trick is to recall the specific symbols for elements 103 (Lawrencium), 107 (Bohrium), 109 (Meitnerium), and 111 (Roentgenium). A common pitfall is confusing the symbols for elements 107–111, which all end in “-ium” and have similar-looking abbreviations.
Let’s match each atomic number to its correct IUPAC symbol step by step.
-
Atomic number 103 – This is Lawrencium, named after Ernest Lawrence. Its IUPAC symbol is Lr. In the list, that corresponds to III.
So A → III.
-
Atomic number 107 – This is Bohrium, named after Niels Bohr. Its symbol is Bh. That matches II.
So B → II.
-
Atomic number 109 – This is Meitnerium, named after Lise Meitner. Its symbol is Mt. That matches I.
So C → I.
-
Atomic number 111 – This is Roentgenium, named after Wilhelm Röntgen. Its symbol is Rg. That matches V.
So D → V.
Now assemble the full mapping:
A–III, B–II, C–I, D–V.
Watch outA common mistake is to confuse Ds (Darmstadtium, element 110) with Rg (Roentgenium, element 111). Also, note that element 108 (Hassium, Hs) is not in this list, so don’t let that distract you.
Looking at the options:
- (A) says A–II, B–III, C–V, D–IV → wrong.
- (B) says A–III, B–I, C–II, D–IV → wrong.
- (C) says A–II, B–V, C–IV, D–I → wrong.
- (D) says A–III, B–II, C–I, D–V → correct.
TipA memory aid: For elements 107–111, the symbols are the first two letters of the name, except Meitnerium (Mt) and Roentgenium (Rg). Just remember “Bohrium = Bh, Meitnerium = Mt, Roentgenium = Rg” and the rest follow.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (D).
ANSWER: D
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- TG EAPCET 2022Set ap-2022-07-31-FN1 markMCQQ.The correct statement among the following is (A) Relative abundance of deuterium is more than protium (B) Relative atomic mass of deuterium is greater than protium (C) Deuterium has more neutrons than protium (D) Deuterium is radioactive
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to compare the nuclear composition of hydrogen isotopes: protium has 0 neutrons, deuterium has 1 neutron. This makes deuterium heavier, but not more abundant or radioactive. The correct statement is that deuterium has more neutrons than protium.
Concept and Intuition
Hydrogen has three naturally occurring isotopes: protium (¹H), deuterium (²H or D), and tritium (³H). Their differences come from the number of neutrons in the nucleus. Protium has just one proton and zero neutrons; deuterium has one proton and one neutron; tritium has one proton and two neutrons. The question tests basic knowledge of these differences, especially relative abundance, atomic mass, neutron count, and radioactivity. The most straightforward fact is that deuterium has one more neutron than protium.
Step-by-step reasoning
-
Relative abundance – Protium makes up over 99.98% of all hydrogen atoms on Earth; deuterium is only about 0.0156%. So deuterium is far less abundant than protium. Option (A) is false.
-
Relative atomic mass – The atomic mass of protium is approximately 1.0078 u, while deuterium is about 2.0141 u. Deuterium is indeed heavier, so its relative atomic mass is greater. However, the phrasing “relative atomic mass” here compares the isotopes themselves, not their average in nature. This statement is true in isolation, but we must check if it is the correct statement among the options — and we will see that another option is more directly and unambiguously correct.
-
Neutron count – Protium has 0 neutrons; deuterium has 1 neutron. Therefore, deuterium has more neutrons than protium. This is a simple, undeniable fact. Option (C) is true.
-
Radioactivity – Deuterium is stable; it does not undergo radioactive decay. Tritium is radioactive (half-life ~12.3 years), but deuterium is not. Option (D) is false.
TipA common pitfall is to think “deuterium is heavier, so (B) must be the answer.” While (B) is technically true, (C) is also true and is the more fundamental, non-comparative fact about nuclear composition. In multiple-choice questions, often only one option is correct — here (C) is the intended answer because it directly states a property that is always true without any nuance about “relative” vs “absolute” mass.
Watch outSome students confuse “relative atomic mass” with “average atomic mass” from the periodic table. The average atomic mass of hydrogen (about 1.008 u) is close to protium’s mass because deuterium is so rare. But the question compares the isotopes themselves, not the natural average.
Conclusion – The only statement that is both true and unambiguous is that deuterium has more neutrons than protium.
✓Final answerThe correct option is (C).
ANSWER: C
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