In: Chemistry
why do elements change when a particle is removed from the nucleus , please explain why this is true.
Each element has a unique atomic number and it has some mass
atomic number = number of protons
Mass of atom ( atomic mass) = Number of Neutrons + Number of protons
Thus, if we remove proton from nucleus, atomic number decreases by 1 as proton decreases by 1. Hence now the element will be different
For example, We have Be have atomic number 4, so it has 4 protons.
Li has atomic number 3. so number of protons are 3.
If we remove a proton from Be, then atomic number = number of protons = 3, which is the atomic number of Li. Hence elements differ.
Due to different number of protons, number of neutrons will vary, inetraction in an atom will be different. Its chemical and physical properties will be different and atom will be different from previous one.