atomic_number

plasmapy.particles.atomic_number(element: plasmapy.particles.particle_class.Particle) → numbers.Integral

Return the number of protons in an atom, isotope, or ion.

Parameters

element (str or Particle) – A string representing an element, isotope, or ion; or an instance of the Particle class.

Returns

atomic_number – The atomic number of an element.

Return type

int

Raises

• InvalidElementError – If the argument is a valid particle but not a valid element.

• InvalidParticleError – If the argument does not correspond to a valid particle.

• TypeError – If the argument is not a str.

See also

mass_number

returns the mass number (the total number of protons and neutrons) of an isotope.

Examples

>>> atomic_number("H")
1
>>> atomic_number("tritium")
1
>>> atomic_number("alpha")
2
>>> atomic_number("oganesson")
118