Question

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explain why the mass number of an element is always a whole number.
the mass number is equal to the of the number of protons and the number of neutrons in an atom. it is not possible to have a proton or neutron in an atom, thus the total number of nuclear particles will always be a whole number.
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Explanation:

The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons. Protons and neutrons are discrete particles, so their count is always a whole - number. You can't have a fraction of a proton or neutron.

Answer:

The mass number is equal to the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons in an atom. It is not possible to have a fraction of a proton or neutron in an atom, thus the total number of nuclear particles will always be a whole number.