What is the atomic number of an atom that has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons?

General
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what is the atomic number of an atom that has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons?

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What is the atomic number of an atom that has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons?

Answer:
To determine the atomic number of an atom, it is essential to understand what the atomic number represents. The atomic number (denoted as ( Z )) is defined as the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

Step-by-Step Solution:

  1. Identify the Number of Protons:

    • The problem states that the atom has 6 protons. Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom.

  2. Determine the Atomic Number:

    • The atomic number is equivalent to the number of protons in the atom.
    • Therefore, for this atom:
      \text{Atomic Number} (Z) = \text{Number of Protons} = 6

  3. Additional Verification (Electrons and Neutrons):

    • The problem also mentions that the atom has 6 electrons and 6 neutrons.
    • The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons. Thus, having 6 electrons corresponds to the same atomic number 6.
    • The number of neutrons (6 in this case) does not affect the atomic number but contributes to the atomic mass.

  4. Element Identification:

    • An element with an atomic number of 6 is Carbon (C). This means the atom described in the problem is a carbon atom.

Conclusion:
The atomic number of an atom that has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons is \boxed{6} . This confirms the atom is a Carbon atom.