Chemical element hydrogen and deuterium). Thus, all carbon isotopes have nearly identical chemical properties because they all have six protons and six electrons, even though carbon atoms may, for example, have 6 or 8 neutrons. That is why the atomic number, rather than mass number or atomic weight, is considered the identifying characteristic of a chemical element. The symbol for atomic number is "Z". Isotopes are atoms of the same element (that is, with the same number of protons in their atomic nucleus), but having "different" numbers of neutrons. Thus, for example, there are three main isotopes of carbon. All carbon atoms
Atomic spacing frequency through the material, and using the laws of diffraction to determine its atomic spacing. Bond length can be determined between different elements in molecules by using the atomic radii of the atom. Carbon bonds with itself to form two covalent network solids. Diamond's C-C bond has a distance of 0.142 nm away from each carbon, while graphite's C-C bond has a distance of 0.341 nm away from each carbon. Although both bonds are between the same pair of elements they can still have different bond length. Atomic spacing Atomic spacing refers to the distance between the nuclei of atoms