Which statement best explains why hydrogen’s atomic number is equal to its mass?(1 point)ResponsesHydrogen is in the first row and the first column of the periodic table.Hydrogen is in the first row and the first column of the periodic table.Hydrogen only has one electronHydrogen only has one electronHydrogen is stable, with two electrons in its outer shell.Hydrogen is stable, with two electrons in its outer shell.Hydrogen does not have any neutrons.
Hydrogen does not have any neutrons.
The correct statement is: Hydrogen only has one electron.
The correct statement is: Hydrogen only has one electron.
To explain why hydrogen's atomic number is equal to its mass, we need to understand the concept of atomic number and mass number.
Atomic number refers to the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. Protons are subatomic particles with a positive charge. Each element on the periodic table has a unique atomic number.
Mass number, on the other hand, refers to the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. Neutrons are subatomic particles with no charge. The mass number is an approximation of the atomic mass or the number of particles in the atom.
Now, let's return to the question. Hydrogen is the first element on the periodic table, and it has an atomic number of 1. This means that it has one proton in its nucleus.
To determine the mass number, we need to consider the number of neutrons in hydrogen. The different isotopes of hydrogen can have 0, 1, or 2 neutrons, resulting in three different forms known as protium, deuterium, and tritium, respectively. However, the most common form of hydrogen, known as protium, does not have any neutrons.
Since the mass number is equal to the sum of protons and neutrons, and hydrogen does not have any neutrons, its mass number is also equal to the number of protons, which is 1.
Therefore, the correct statement is that hydrogen only has one electron.