Write a brief passage describing a neutral atom of nitrogen-14 (N-14). Describe the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in the atom, where each type of particle is located, and how the terms atomic number, mass number, and atomic mass are related to the particles. Use the periodic table to help you.
A neutral atom of nitrogen-14 (N-14) consists of 7 protons, 7 neutrons, and 7 electrons. Protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus of the atom, which is located at the center. Electrons, on the other hand, orbit around the nucleus in specific energy levels or shells.
The atomic number of an atom represents the number of protons it contains. In the case of nitrogen-14, the atomic number is 7 because there are 7 protons in its nucleus. The mass number of an atom is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons. In this case, since nitrogen-14 has 7 neutrons and 7 protons, its mass number is 14.
Atomic mass, on the other hand, is the average mass of an atom taking into account the different isotopes and their relative abundance. It can be found on the periodic table and is often presented as a decimal number. For nitrogen, the atomic mass is approximately 14.01, which is slightly greater than the mass number of nitrogen-14. This difference is due to the existence of nitrogen-15, a less abundant isotope with 8 neutrons.
In summary, a neutral atom of nitrogen-14 has 7 protons, 7 neutrons, and 7 electrons. The protons and neutrons are found in the nucleus, while the electrons orbit around the nucleus. The atomic number represents the number of protons, the mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons, and the atomic mass takes into account the average mass considering isotopes and their abundance.