What is the Difference Between Atomic Number and Atomicity?

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The difference between atomic number and atomicity lies in what they describe about an element. Here are the key differences:

  • Atomic Number: This refers to the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. The atomic number is represented by the symbol Z and is used to place elements in the periodic table. The atomic number also determines the element's chemical properties, as it is the number of protons that influences how an atom interacts with other atoms.
  • Atomicity: This is the total number of atoms present in a molecule of an element. Atomicity can be classified into several categories based on the number of atoms in a molecule:
  • Monoatomic (composed of one atom)
  • Diatomic (composed of two atoms)
  • Triatomic (composed of three atoms)
  • Polyatomic (composed of three or more atoms)

In summary, atomic number describes the number of protons in an atom's nucleus and determines its chemical properties, while atomicity describes the total number of atoms in a molecule of an element.

Comparative Table: Atomic Number vs Atomicity

Atomic number and atomicity are two different terms related to atoms and molecules. Here is a table highlighting their differences:

Property Atomic Number Atomicity
Definition The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. The total number of atoms present in a molecule.
Techniques Determined from the periodic table. Determined from the structure of the molecule.
Units No unit No unit
Comparison Determines the identity of an element. Indicates whether a molecule is monoatomic, diatomic, triatomic, or polyatomic.

In summary, atomic number refers to the number of protons in an atom's nucleus and is used to identify elements in the periodic table. Atomicity, on the other hand, refers to the total number of atoms present in a molecule and can be used to classify molecules as monoatomic, diatomic, triatomic, or polyatomic.