MASS NUMBER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mass number mean? 

• MASS NUMBER (noun)
  The noun MASS NUMBER has 1 sense:

1. the sum of the number of neutrons and protons in an atomic nucleus

  Familiarity information: MASS NUMBER used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MASS NUMBER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The sum of the number of neutrons and protons in an atomic nucleus

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

mass number; nucleon number

Hypernyms ("mass number" is a kind of...):

mass unit (a unit of measurement for mass)

 Context examples 

Oxygen atoms having the same atomic number (protons) but different mass numbers (and different numbers of neutrons).

(Oxygen isotopes, NOAA Paleoclimate Glossary)

Unstable isotopes of high atomic number (elements of mass number from 82 up) which energetically release from their nuclei a particle consisting of two neutrons and two protons, with a positive charge (2e+) and identical to the helium nucleus.

(Alpha Particle Emitter, NCI Thesaurus)