The atomic weight of any given isotope of an element is the result of the protons and the neutrons. The number of protons is the same as the atomic number, so if you subtract the atomic number from the atomic weight, voila, there is the number of neutrons. Bear in mind that elements have more than one isotope, and each isotope has a different number of neutrons. So the atomic weight is the result of a mixture of isotopes that appear in nature.
The characteristic of an atom that is not used to determine the number of neutrons is its atomic number. The atomic number indicates the number of protons in an atom, while the number of neutrons is derived from the difference between the atomic mass (which is the total number of protons and neutrons) and the atomic number. Therefore, only the atomic mass and the atomic number are needed to calculate the number of neutrons.
atomic number
The number of neutrons in an atom determines the isotope of the element. Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons but differing numbers of neutrons. This affects the stability and nuclear properties of the atom.
To determine the number of protons, look at the atomic number. The number of electrons is also the atomic number.To find the number of neutrons subtract the atomic number from the Atomic Mass number.
You can determine the number of neutrons in an atom by subtracting the atomic number (number of protons) from the atomic mass (rounded to the nearest whole number). This will give you the number of neutrons in the atom.
To determine the number of neutrons in an atom, subtract the atomic number (number of protons) from the atomic mass number (rounded mass of the atom). Neutrons are particles found in the nucleus of an atom and carry no charge.
Number of Neutrons = Mass number - Atomic Number
Atomic mass minus atomic number. This is rather simplified but the atomic mass of an element is the total of all the protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom. Each proton and neutron has an atomic mass of approximately 1 AMU (atomic mass units) while an electron has an atomic mass of about 0.0005 AMU. So, you don't need to worry about the electrons. The atomic number of an element is simply the number of protons in the atom. So, atomic mass (number of protons and neutrons) minus atomic number (number of protons) equals number of neutrons in an atom.
The numbers of protons and of electrons in an atom are both the same as the atomic number, and the difference between the mass number and the atomic number is the number of neutrons in the atom.
It is impossible to determine the number of neutrons from the mass number and atomic mass, since the two are essentially same value. However, with the atomic number and the mass number, one can calculate the number of neutrons by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number.
To determine the number of neutrons in an element, subtract the atomic number (number of protons) from the atomic mass (rounded to the nearest whole number). Neutrons are neutral particles found in the nucleus of an atom.
Atomic Mass: protons AND neutrons atomic number: just protons