How do you solve for neutrons?

Answer 1

You need to know the charge on the atom or ion. The mass number is completely irrelevant if you have the atomic number.

The atomic number tells you the number of protons in the nucleus.

If the atom is neutral, then it has as many protons as electrons, and so the number of electrons equals the atomic number

If the atom is charged, and is thus called an ion, than take the atomic number and subtract the charge from it to give the number of electrons.

For instance, if you have a sodium ion with charge +1 (Na+), then the number of protons is equal to 11 (the atomic number), and the number of electrons is

11 - 1 = 10

If instead you had a chlorine ion with charge -1 (Cl-), then the number of protons is equal to 17 (the atomic number), and the number of electrons is

17 - -1 = 18

See the Related Questions to the left for more information about how to count the particles of an atom.

Answer 2

To calculate the number of neutrons in an atom, subtract the atomic number (number of protons) from the Atomic Mass (rounded to the nearest whole number). Neutrons contribute to the mass of an atom but not its charge.

Answer 3

The # of protons in an atom is always the same as the atomic # of that atom, and to figure out the # of neutrons in an atom, take the atomic # away from the mass number.

Be careful, mass number and atomic mass are not the same thing. Mass number is number of protons and neutrons in an isotope. Atomic mass is the weighted average mass of the naturally occurring isotopes. Atomic mass can be fractional eg 35.45 but atomic number must be a whole number eg 37

Answer 4

You must also be given or find in a reference the mass number of the isotope in question. Then the number of electrons can be subtracted from the mass number to give the number of neutrons in the atom.

Answer 5

Atomic number = No. of protons and No. of electrons in a neutral atom (Meaning it has not taken place in any reaction,i.e., it is not an ion).

Atomic Mass - Atomic number (Or, No. Of Protons)= No. Of Neutrons.

Answer 6

The protons and neutrons are located in the center of the atom. The proton count is equal to its atomic number. The difference between the mass number and atomic number of an atom is equivalent to its number of neutrons.

Answer 7

Atomic mass is the number of protons plus the number of neutrons.

Answer 8

eat you friends!

and you will know how!!

joke!!

Answer 9

Unless it's an ion, atoms have the same number of electrons as protons

Answer 10

The proton has a relative charge of +1

The neutron is neutral -- no charge.