An atom with 22 protons is the element titanium (Ti). The number of protons, 22, is the atomic number that determines the element's identity. If this atom also contains 2 neutrons, its mass number (protons + neutrons) is 24. This would be an isotope of titanium with the symbol Ti\text{Ti}Ti and mass number 24, written as 2224Ti\mathrm{^{24}_{22}Ti}2224Ti. To summarize:
- Protons = 22 (Titanium)
- Neutrons = 2
- Atomic number = 22
- Mass number = 24
- Isotope symbol: 2224Ti\mathrm{^{24}_{22}Ti}2224Ti
Titanium normally has more neutrons (e.g., the most common isotope titanium-48 has 22 protons and 26 neutrons), so an atom with only 2 neutrons would be a very unusual, very light isotope of titanium.
