Calculate the atomic number of an element whose mass number is 31 and number of neutrons is 13. What is the symbol of the element?
We know that, mass number = Number of protons + Number of neutrons
But number of protons is equal to the atomic number.
∴ Mass number = Atomic number + number of neutron
or Atomic number = Mass number - number of neutron = 31 - 16 = 15
The element with atomic number 15 is phosphorus which has symbol P.