How to Read an Element in the Periodic Table
Check the atomic number at the top of the element's box; that's the number of protons in the nucleus. The symbol (like H for Hydrogen) tells you the shorthand for the element, and the atomic mass at the bottom gives you the average mass of all the element's isotopes.
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The number on top is the atomic number, the letters in the middle are the element symbol, and the number at the bottom is the atomic mass. Easy peasy!
Start with the atomic number at the top to know the protons, then the symbol for the element's short name, and finally, the atomic mass at the bottom.
Read the number at the top (protons), the symbol in the middle (element abbreviation), and the number at the bottom (mass).
The atomic number (top) tells you protons; the symbol (middle) tells you the element; the atomic mass (bottom) tells you the weighted average of all its isotopes.
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