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atomic number definition

atomic number

Chem. a number representing the relative position of an element in the periodic table, in which the elements are arranged in the order of their nuclear charges; a number representing the positive charge or the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom of an element: isotopes have the same atomic number but different mass numbers

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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