- Determine atomic number \(Z = 19\) based on the number of protons.
- Calculate mass number \(A = 19 + 20 = 39\).
- Identify element symbol \(K\) from the given atomic number \(Z=19\).
- Combine these into the isotope notation \({}_{19}^{39}K\), with the element symbol being \(\boxed{K}\).
Explanation
- Identifying the Element and Atomic Properties
The problem asks us to determine the element symbol and the standard nuclear notation for an atom containing 19 protons (\(p^{+}\)), 19 electrons (\(e^{-}\)), and 20 neutrons (\(n^{0}\)). The atomic number (\(Z\)) of an element is defined by its number of protons, so here \(Z = 19\). The mass number (\(A\)) of an atom is defined by the total number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus, thus \(A = 19 + 20 = 39\). By consulting the provided information, the element corresponding to the atomic number 19 is Potassium, represented by the symbol \(K\).
- Determining the Notation and Final Answer
The standard nuclear notation for an isotope is written as \({}_{Z}^{A}X\), where \(X\) is the element symbol, \(Z\) is the atomic number, and \(A\) is the mass number. Having identified the symbol \(K\), the atomic number \(Z=19\), and the mass number \(A=39\), we can construct the full notation as \({}_{19}^{39}K\). The element symbol itself is simply \(K\).
Examples
Isotope notation is essential in medicine and scientific research. For example, radioactive isotopes like Carbon-14 (\({}_{6}^{14}C\)) are used in carbon dating to determine the age of archaeological findings, while others like Technetium-99m (\({}_{43}^{99m}Tc\)) are used in medical imaging to diagnose conditions inside the human body. Understanding this notation allows scientists to precisely identify which isotope is being used for these critical applications.