Atomic Structure: Understanding Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons
How do we determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom?
Consider the hypothetical atom, with a mass number of 76 and an atomic number of 32, what would be the number of protons (p), neutrons (n), and electrons (e), if the atom was real?
A. 32p, 32e, 44n
B. 44p, 44e, 32n
C. 32p, 32e, 76n
D. 44p, 32e, 76n
E. 44p, 32e, 32n
Answer:
Final answer: The hypothetical atom in question with atomic number 32 and mass number 76 would have 32 protons, 32 electrons, and 44 neutrons.
Explanation: The hypothetical atom in question has an atomic number of 32 and a mass number of 76. The atomic number indicates the number of protons in an atom. Therefore, this atom has 32 protons. The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons, so this atom also has 32 electrons.
The mass number of an atom is the sum of its protons and neutrons. So, to find the number of neutrons, subtract the atomic number (number of protons) from the mass number. Therefore, 76 (mass number) - 32 (atomic number) = 44 neutrons.
Thus, the correct answer is A. 32p (protons), 32e (electrons), 44n (neutrons).