The atomic number of oxygen is 8, and its atomic mass is approximately 16 amu.
According to the provided reference, oxygen has an atomic number (Z) of 8, which means that each oxygen atom contains 8 protons. Most oxygen atoms also have 8 neutrons. The mass number, which is the sum of protons and neutrons, is therefore 16 (8 protons + 8 neutrons). This results in an atomic mass of about 16 amu for the most common isotope of oxygen.
Here is a summary table:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 8 |
| Protons | 8 |
| Neutrons | 8 (common) |
| Atomic Mass | ~16 amu |
It's important to note that the atomic mass we typically see on the periodic table is a weighted average of all stable isotopes of oxygen. However, the most abundant isotope is the one with 8 protons and 8 neutrons.
