How do you determine the number of electrons in an atom if you don't know the number of protons or the atomic number in the atom?

Answer 1

The number of protons in an atomic nucleus is the sole determinate as regards its elemental identity - its atomic number. The number of electrons will exactly match this number in the neutral atom. But electrons can be loaned or borrowed. What is known? The number of neutrons? With nothing more than is stated, what can be determined? Nothing of a certainty. If the number of neutrons is known, then we could divide the table of elements into two parts: the group of elements that it "could be" and the group that it "couldn't be" by using a table of nuclides as a reference. Other than that, there is little that can be discovered....

Answer 2

Considering that the number of electrons is the same as the number of protons (unless it has a charge) it would be hard to find the answer with out know that info. Maybe look up the element on a Periodic Table.

Answer 3

Protons = atomic number

Neutrons + Protons = Atomic Mass (electrons don't count because they're too light) If you're not given the atomic mass you can't do anything to find the number of neutrons

Protons - electrons = charge. Protons have positive charge and electrons have negative charge. Typically the charge = 0, unless it's an ion.

Eg. Carbon 12 (where 12 refers to the mass)

Carbon has 6 protons (because that's its atomic number), 6 neutrons

because 12(mass) - 6(proton) = 6(neutron)

Since the charge is not specified, we assume the charge is 0. Therefore, since there are 6 protons, there are also 6 electrons.

Eg. Mg2+

Mg has an atomic number of 12, therefore it has 12 protons.

It has a charge of 2+, therefore it has 2 more protons than electrons. Therefore it has 10 electrons.

Answer 4

If we know the identity of the atom, that would be simple. The number of protons would be equal to the atomic number as listed in the Periodic Table of Elements - for instance, a carbon atom has 6 protons. For an electrically neutral atom (i.e. not an ion), the number of electrons would be equal to the number of protons. So in this case, each carbon atom has 6 protons and 6 electrons.

The number of protons and neutrons can be figured out with the atomic number and the relative atomic mass. The number of protons is equal to the atomic number. The (mass number) - (atomic number) gives the number of neutrons in the atom.

Answer 5

If we know the identity of the atom, that would be simple. The number of protons would be equal to the atomic number as listed in the Periodic Table of Elements - for instance, a carbon atom has 6 protons. For an electrically neutral atom (i.e. not an ion), the number of electrons would be equal to the number of protons. So in this case, each carbon atom has 6 protons and 6 electrons.

Answer 6

The number of protons and neutrons can be figured out with the atomic number and the relative atomic mass. The number of protons is equal to the atomic number. The (mass number) - (atomic number) gives the number of neutrons in the atom.

Answer 7

You can determine the number of protons an atom has without the periodic table,

1) if you know the number of electrons in a neutral atom. In a neutral atom, the numbers of protons and electrons are equal.

2) if you know the mass number and number of neutrons, you can subtract the neutrons from the mass number. This will give you the number of protons.

3) if you are given the atomic number, which, by definition, is the number of protons.

Answer 8

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. This is because the positive charge of the protons is balanced by the negative charge of the electrons, keeping the atom electrically neutral. If you don't know the number of protons or the atomic number, you would need additional information or data to determine the number of electrons.