Argon has three naturally occurring isotopes, with mass numbers 36, 38, and 40.a. Write the atomic symbol for each of these atoms.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atomic number of Argon, which is 18, as it is the number of protons in the nucleus of an Argon atom.
2. Use the format for atomic symbols: \( ^{A}_{Z}X \), where \( A \) is the mass number, \( Z \) is the atomic number, and \( X \) is the chemical symbol.
3. For Argon-36, substitute \( A = 36 \), \( Z = 18 \), and \( X = \text{Ar} \) into the atomic symbol format.
4. For Argon-38, substitute \( A = 38 \), \( Z = 18 \), and \( X = \text{Ar} \) into the atomic symbol format.
5. For Argon-40, substitute \( A = 40 \), \( Z = 18 \), and \( X = \text{Ar} \) into the atomic symbol format.

Key Concepts

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This results in different mass numbers for the isotopes. For example, argon has isotopes with mass numbers 36, 38, and 40, indicating that they each have 18 protons but differ in their neutron count.

Atomic Symbol

The atomic symbol is a notation that represents a chemical element, consisting of one or two letters derived from its name, often accompanied by the mass number. For isotopes, the atomic symbol is typically written as 'A/Z Element', where A is the mass number and Z is the atomic number. For argon, the atomic symbol for its isotopes would be written as 36Ar, 38Ar, and 40Ar.

Mass Number

The mass number of an atom is the total count of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. It is a whole number that reflects the atom's isotopic identity. In the case of argon, the mass numbers 36, 38, and 40 indicate the total number of nucleons in each isotope, which is essential for distinguishing between the isotopes of the same element.