What does the symbol Z represent in atomic theory?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking what the symbol Z represents in atomic theory, particularly its relationship to an atom's characteristics. The options given provide possible definitions associated with atomic structure.
Answer
Z is the atomic number, indicating the number of protons in an atom's nucleus.
In atomic theory, the symbol Z represents the atomic number, which is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom and defines the chemical element's identity.
Answer for screen readers
In atomic theory, the symbol Z represents the atomic number, which is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom and defines the chemical element's identity.
More Information
The symbol 'Z' originates from the German word 'Zahl', which means 'number'.
Sources
- Atomic number - en.wikipedia.org
- Why is atomic number denoted by Z? - Homework.Study.com - homework.study.com
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information