How do you draw potassium?

Answer 1

Potassium has an atomic number of 19 and a mass number close to 39. To draw an atom of potassium, its important to know the following:

• Atomic number = number of protons = number of electrons
• Mass number = number of protons + number of neutrons

From this, we can work out the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in potassium:

• Protons in potassium = 19
• Electrons in potassium = 19
• Neutrons in potassium = 20

Now, the protons and neutrons are located in the center of an atom called the nucleus so you would need to draw 19 protons and 20 neutrons at the center of the atom. Surrounding the nucleus are electrons that are located in sub-atomic shells. The electrons exist in an order that is called the electronic configuration. For the first 20 elements, the electronic configuration is 2, 8, 8, 2. You would therefore need to draw 4 "rings" around the nucleus. These rings will act as your sub-atomic shells. In the first ring, you would draw 2 electrons, followed by 8 electrons in the second and third ring, and finally 1 electron in the fourth ring.

Answer 2

Silver