Question #9206b

1 Answer
Dec 15, 2014

The isotopic notation, also called nuclear notation, for a particular isotope includes the chemical symbol for the element from the periodic table, the atomic number (number of protons) from the periodic table and written as a subscript in front of the chemical symbol, and the mass number (sum of protons and neutrons) written as a superscript in front of the chemical symbol.

The diagram below represents a model of how to represent an isotope using isotopic notation.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nuclear/nucnot.html

For Manganese-60, X = Mn (from the periodic table), A = 60 (given in the problem), and Z = 25 (from the periodic table). The isotopic notation for Manganese-60 is #""_25^60 "Mn"#.

If you are asked to calculate the number of neutrons, simply subtract Z from A. For #""_25^60 "Mn"#, the number of neutrons, N, is 60 - 25 = 35.