Tömegszámban

Tömegszámban, which translates to "in terms of mass number" or "mass number-wise" in Hungarian, refers to the total number of protons and neutrons within an atomic nucleus. This quantity is a fundamental characteristic of an atom's isotope. The mass number is often denoted by the uppercase letter A. It is calculated by summing the atomic number (Z), which represents the number of protons, and the neutron number (N), the number of neutrons. Therefore, A = Z + N.

The mass number is crucial for distinguishing between isotopes of the same element. While all atoms of a given element have the same number of protons (the atomic number), they can have varying numbers of neutrons. These variations lead to different isotopes, each possessing a unique mass number. For instance, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon. Carbon-12 has 6 protons and 6 neutrons, giving it a mass number of 12. Carbon-14 has 6 protons and 8 neutrons, resulting in a mass number of 14.

The concept of tömegszámban is important in nuclear physics and chemistry. It directly influences an isotope's nuclear properties, including its stability, radioactivity, and nuclear reaction behavior. For example, heavier isotopes generally have a higher mass number and may exhibit different decay modes compared to lighter isotopes of the same element. Understanding the mass number allows scientists to predict and analyze the behavior of various atomic species.

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