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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?
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
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....
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 16y agoConsidering 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.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoProtons = 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.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoIf 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.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoIf 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.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoThe 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.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoYou 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.
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Do electrons determine what kind of element an atom is?
The number of protons determine the element. It is equal to the atomic number. The number of electrons is equal to the number of protons only of the atom is neutral.
Determine the number of protons?
The number of protons is equal to atomic number and the number of electrons (for a neutral atom).
How do you determine the number of protons electrons and neutrons present in an element by identifying its atomic and mass numbers from the periodic table?
Atomic number means number of protons present in an atom. Atomic number= number of protons. mass number = number of neutrons+ number of protons. So if you subtract the number of protons you get neutrons and if you subtract neutrons you get protons. mass number - protons= neutrons Mass number - neutrons = protons.
What gives an element it's atomic number?
Atomic number is the number of protons (i.e. equal to the number of electrons) of an atom.
What do you notice about the atomic number and the total number of electrons in an atom of that element?
The atomic number tells you the number of protons that an element has. An electrically neutral atom necessarily has the same number of electrons as it has protons.
How you can determine the number of protons electrons and neutrons an atom has from an atom's mass number and its atomic number?
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.
What is the reason one can determine the number of electrons from the atomic number?
It is because atomic no. is decided on the basis of no. of protons in the atom and no. of protons is equal to no. of electrons in an atom.
What do the protons do?
The number of protons determine the atomic number of an element. There are the same amount of protons as electrons in a regular element.
Do electrons determine what kind of element an atom is?
The number of protons determine the element. It is equal to the atomic number. The number of electrons is equal to the number of protons only of the atom is neutral.
What 2 subatomic particles can you determine from the atomic number?
Atomic number is same as the number of protons and number of electrons.
What do the protons determinate?
The number of protons determine the atomic number of an element. There are the same amount of protons as electrons in a regular element.
Determine the number of protons?
The number of protons is equal to atomic number and the number of electrons (for a neutral atom).
Do valence electrons determine the atomic mass?
No, the valance electrons determine the charge, the atomic number is determined by the number of protons. Generally, electrons are equal to protons, but in ions it is different, so use protons.
How do you determine the number of protons electrons and neutrons present in an element by identifying its atomic and mass numbers from the periodic table?
Atomic number means number of protons present in an atom. Atomic number= number of protons. mass number = number of neutrons+ number of protons. So if you subtract the number of protons you get neutrons and if you subtract neutrons you get protons. mass number - protons= neutrons Mass number - neutrons = protons.
What does the number of electrons in an atom determine?
In a neutral atom the total number of electrons is equal to the number of protons and atomic number.
What can be determined by looking at the atomic number of an element?
the number of protons in an atom and the number of electrons in an atom
What information can you gather knowing the atomic number and mass of an element?
If you know the atomic no. and atomic mass, then the no. of electrons, no. of protons and no. of neutrons can also be determined. Atomic No.=No. of electrons = No. of protons. No. of neutrons=Atomic mass-Atomic no. Also, by no. of electrons you can determine its valency and the no. of valence electrons.
