The mass number of a nucleus is (a) always less than its atomic number (b) always more than its atomic number (c) sometimes equal to its atomic number (d) sometimes less than and sometimes more than its atomic number

Answer: (c). A = Z + N, and N ≥ 0, so A ≥ Z; A is never less than Z. For ordinary hydrogen ₁¹H, N = 0, so A = Z = 1. So A is sometimes equal to Z: the answer is (c).

The mass number of a nucleus is | NEET 2003 (AIPMT)

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Nucleus: Composition, Size & Nuclear Force

The mass number of a nucleus is

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Answer: (c)

$A = Z + N$ , and $N \ge 0$ , so $A \ge Z$ ; $A$ is never less than $Z$ .
For ordinary hydrogen ${}_{1}^{1}\text{H}$ , $N = 0$ , so $A = Z = 1$ .
So $A$ is sometimes equal to $Z$ : the answer is (c).

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