Questions: Complete the table to determine the nuclear symbol for this neutral atom. Nuclear Symbol Subatomic Particles Protons: 72 To which element does this atom belong?

Complete the table to determine the nuclear symbol for this neutral atom.

Nuclear Symbol Subatomic Particles

Protons: 72

To which element does this atom belong?

Transcript text: Complete the table to determine the nuclear symbol for this neutral atom. \begin{tabular}{|l|l|} \hline Nuclear Symbol & Subatomic Particles \\ \hline & \\ \hline & \\ \hline & Protons: 72 \\ & \\ \hline \end{tabular} To which element does this atom belong? $\square$

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Identify the Element from the Number of Protons

The number of protons in an atom determines the element.
Look up the atomic number 72 on the periodic table to find the corresponding element.

Step 2: Determine the Element Name

The element with atomic number 72 is Hafnium (Hf).

Step 3: Write the Nuclear Symbol

The nuclear symbol is written as $ \text{Element Symbol} $ with the atomic number as a subscript and the mass number as a superscript.
Since the mass number is not provided, the nuclear symbol can be written as $ \text{Hf} $ with the atomic number 72 as a subscript: $ \,^{A}_{72}\text{Hf} $, where $ A $ is the mass number.