210k views
2 votes
How would you determine the number of neutrons in an atom? Show as a formula!

User Rjk
by
5.9k points

1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

n = A – Z

Explanation:

The general symbol for an atom of an element X is
_(Z)^(A)\text{X}, where

Z = the atomic number = the number of protons (p) and

A = the mass number = the number of protons + the number of neutrons (n)

A = p + n

Subtract Z from A. Then,

A - Z = p + n – p = n

or

n = A - Z

User Svyatoslav
by
6.2k points