How is each element unique on the periodic table?

1 Answer
Jan 19, 2017

By their #"atomic numbers Z"#.

Explanation:

Each element is defined by a particular #"atomic number Z"#, where #Z# is the number of protons, massive, positively charged particles in the element's nucleus.

#Z=1#, #"the element is hydrogen"#; #Z=2#, #"the element is helium"#; #Z=3#, #"the element is lithium"#;........................................................#Z=23#, #"the element is vanadium"#.

Do you have to remember these numbers?