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Identify the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in the sulfur isotope with atomic number 16 and mass number 32

User Bjoseph
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1 Answer

29 votes
29 votes

Answer

The number of protons = 16

The number of neutrons = 16

The number of electrons = 16

Step-by-step explanation

Given that:

The sulfur isotope has an atomic number 16 and mass number 32.

What to find:

The number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in the sulfur isotope.

Step-by-step solution:

The number of protons in the atom of an element is known as the atomic number.

Since the atom is electrically neutral so the number of protons and number of electrons are equal.

Atomic number (Z) of an element = number of protons = number of electrons.

Thus, the number of protons of the sulfur isotope is 16 and the number of electrons of the sulfur isotope is also 16.

The mass number of an element represents the total of protons + neutrons.

So, if the sulfur isotope has a mass number of 32, therefore,

The number of neutrons = mass number - number of protons.

The number of neutrons = 32 - 16 = 16.

Thus;

The number of protons = 16

The number of neutrons = 16

The number of electrons = 16

User Sreerag
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