| atomic number | |
| —n | |
| at. no., Z, Also called: proton number the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of an element | |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
atomic number n.
Abbr. at. no., at no
The number of protons in an atomic nucleus; it indicates the position of an element in the periodic table.
| atomic number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. In electrically neutral atoms, this number is also equal to the number of electrons orbiting about the atom's nucleus. The atomic number of an element determines its position in the Periodic Table, and is usually denoted by the letter Z and written as a subscript before an element's symbol, as in 92U. |
The number of protons or electrons normally found in an atom of a given chemical element. The higher the atomic number, the heavier the atom is. In a neutral atom, the number of protons and electrons is the same. (See atomic weight and periodic table of the elements.)