What is the atomic number of mercury?

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Multiple Choice

What is the atomic number of mercury?

Atomic number is the number of protons in an atom’s nucleus, and that count identifies the element. Mercury has 80 protons, so its atomic number is 80. In a neutral atom, there are also 80 electrons, but the defining feature is the proton count. The other numbers point to different elements (lead, iridium, and uranium), not mercury. So 80 is the right atomic number for mercury.

Atomic number is the number of protons in an atom’s nucleus, and that count identifies the element. Mercury has 80 protons, so its atomic number is 80. In a neutral atom, there are also 80 electrons, but the defining feature is the proton count. The other numbers point to different elements (lead, iridium, and uranium), not mercury. So 80 is the right atomic number for mercury.

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