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The number of protons in an atomic nucleus can change by several different mechanisms. Let's look at each one and see what happens.
In an atom with "too many" protons in its nucleus, that unstable atom can undergo what is called beta decay. There are two types of beta decay, and the one that could happen here goes by the name beta plus decay. In beta plus decay, a proton in the nucleus of that unstable atom transforms into a neutron. A positron and an antineutrino will be ejected from the nucleus, and the number of protons will have gone down by one. If you guessed that nuclear transmutation has just occurred where one element has transformed into another one, you'd be correct.
In some other unstable atoms with "too many" protons in the nucleus, that nucleus could under an electron capture event. In electron capture, the nucleus "pulls in" a nearby electron from one of the inner shells of the atom, and that electron "combines" with a proton to become a neutron. Again, the number of protons in the nucleus goes down by one, and nuclear transmutation has occurred.
Lastly, it is possible to bombard atomic nuclei with particles and "knock" protons out of a nucleus that is "hit" by the bombarding particles. There are a few different activities that are carried out in nuclear physics labs to do this, but we'll leave it here for now. Just keep in mind that beta plus decay and electron capture are the two primary methods that unstable nuclei undergo when they change the number of protons they have. Links to related questions can be found below for more information.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe number of protons in a nucleus depends on the element. Hydrogen has 1 proton, helium has 2 protons, and lithium has 3. All elements have different numbers of protons in the nucleus. If you look on a Periodic Table, each element has an atomic number. That number is the number of protons there is in the nucleus of an atom of that element. Give or take a proton away, and the atom becomes tha atom of a different element. =)
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe nucleon are the particles in thee nucleus of an atom. They are two kinds: neutrons and protons. Protons have a positive charge and neutrons have no charges.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoAtomic number and number of electrons of element
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Do protons circle the nucleus of an atom?
Nuclei of atoms contain protons (+) and neutrons. The electrons (-) circle the nucleus on orbitals, forming the electron cloud. In a balanced or neutral atom, there will be the same number of protons in the nucleus as there are electrons outside of the nucleus. The number of neutrons can vary within the same element; that's how you get isotopes (e.g. Carbon-13 has 6 protons, 6 electrons, and 7 neutrons...The 13 is the atomic mass representing the sum of the protons and neutrons)
Are Atomic numbers and numbers of protons the same?
Neutral atoms do. Neutral atoms need the same number of positively charged protons in the nucleus to balance that same number of negatively charged electrons in their orbitals around that atom's nucleus.
What particle defines an element?
The number of protons in an atom's nucleus determines the identity of element. The number of protons equals the atomic number.
What is an atom which has unequal number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus?
Radioactive
What is the number of protons in nucleus of the symbol U?
92, the atomic number of U.
What do two different neutral isotopes of the same elements have in common?
They have the same number of protons in the nucleus and same number of electrons surrounding the nucleus.
What is the correspondent to the number of protons inside the atomic nucleus?
The number of protons in the nucleus is the same as the atomic number.
How do you find the number of protons in an elements nucleus?
The number of protons in an elements nucleus is the same number at the atomic number.
What do isotopes and nucleus have in common?
All the isotopes of a chemical element have the same atomic number, number of protons and number of neutrons.
Number of protons in silver nucleus?
There are 47 protons in Silver's atomic nucleus. The number of protons is the same as the atomic mumber.
Do all atoms with the same number of protons have the same name?
Yes, all atoms with the same number of protons will have the same name. The number of protons in an atomic nucleus is what we use to number the elements. Elements with the same number of protons are the same element, as the identity of an element is due solely to the number of protons in its nucleus.
Number of electrons and protons in a nucleus?
The number of protons in a nucleus depends on which element it is. ( The number of protons is the decider as to which element it is. ) The number of electrons in an atom is the same as the number of protons in the nucleus, but none of the electrons are in the nucleus. Rather, they orbit around the nucleus like planets round a star.
What is the number of protons in the nucleus?
The number of protons is the same as the atomic number of the element. for example if your element is magnesium with the atomic number 12 there would be 12 protons in the nucleus.
How do the number of protons in the atomic nucleus normally compare to the number of electrons that orbit the nucleus?
The number of protons is usually the same as the number of electrons!:)
The number of protons in its nucleus mean?
The number of protons in the nucleus identifies the element. It is like a fingerprint for that element. No other element will have that same number of protons. As soon as the number of protons in the nucleus changes, so does the identity of the element change.
Does a nucleus have the same number of protons and electrons?
The nucleus of an atom contains only protons and neutrons; there are never any electrons in the nucleus. The number of neutrons is generally equal to or greater than the number of protons.
What is the number of protons in the nucleus of xenon?
There are 54 protons in the nucleus of xenon. You can find the number of protons of any element on the periodic table by noting the atomic number of the element. The atomic number is the same as the number of protons.
