Question

Enter the appropriate symbol for an isotope of phosphorus-32 corresponding to the isotope notation AZX. Express your answer as a chemical symbol using isotope notation.

Answer 1

Answer:

$^{32}_{15}P$

Explanation:

Atomic number : It is defined as the number of electrons or number of protons present in a neutral atom.

However, when we talk about the atomic number of the ion, it is not equal to the number of electrons as electron can be gained or loosed.

This is why, more appropriately, the number of the protons which are present in the nucleus of the atom is called the atomic number.

Thus, atomic number of phosphorus = 15

Mass number is the number of the entities present in the nucleus which is the equal to the sum of the number of protons and electrons.

Given, Mass number = 32

Thus, the symbol of the isotope is:-

$^{32}_{15}P$