Chapter 4.3, Problem 20SP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The symbol, atomic number, and mass number of the oxygen isotope are to be identified.

Concept introduction: Isotopes are the elements that have the same atomic number but differ in the count of mass number. An element can have two or more isotopes.

Answer to Problem 20SP

Isotope	Symbol	Atomic number	Mass number
Oxygen-16	${}_8^{16}\text{O}$	$8$	$16$
Oxygen-17	${}_8^{17}\text{O}$	$8$	$17$
Oxygen-18	${}_8^{18}\text{O}$	$8$	$18$

Explanation of Solution

The general representation symbol of an element is given as ${}_{\text{Z}}^{\text{A}}\text{X}$ .

Where, $\text{X}$ is the element, $\text{Z}$ is the atomic number, and $\text{A}$ is the atomic number.

The given three isotope values correspond to the mass number of three isotopes of oxygen.

In Oxygen-16, the mass number is $16$ and the atomic number is $8$ .

The symbol of Oxygen-16 is ${}_8^{16}\text{O}$ .

In Oxygen-17, the mass number is $17$ and the atomic number is $8$ .

The symbol of Oxygen-17 is ${}_8^{17}\text{O}$ .

In Oxygen-18, the mass number is $18$ and the atomic number is $8$ .

The symbol of Oxygen-18 is ${}_8^{18}\text{O}$ .