EasyChemistryHigh School (9–10)GeneralStructure of the Atom › Electronic Configuration and ValencyStructure of the Atom › Isotopes and IsobarsNumerical
Sulphur has an atomic number of 16. Find the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in a neutral…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Sulphur has an atomic number of .
- Find the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in a neutral atom of sulphur-32.
- Sulphur also has an isotope sulphur-34. What changes, and what stays the same?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
The atomic number is the number of protons, and it decides the element. The mass number is protons plus neutrons, so neutrons . A neutral atom has electrons. An ion has the same nucleus; only the electrons change, by the charge.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) Protons. .
Step 2. (a) Neutrons. .
Step 3. (a) Electrons. , as many as the protons.
Step 4. (b) Sulphur-34 has neutrons. The protons and electrons stay the same.
Answer: (a) , and . (b) only the neutrons change, to .
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