Final answer:
Arsenic-75, referring to its atomic mass, contains 42 neutrons. This is calculated by subtracting the atomic number (33, the number of protons) from the atomic mass (75).
Step-by-step explanation:
The neutron is a subatomic particle, symbol n or n0, which has a neutral (not positive or negative) charge, and a mass slightly greater than that of a proton. Protons and neutrons constitute the nuclei of atoms. Since protons and neutrons behave similarly within the nucleus, and each has a mass of approximately one dalton, they are both referred to as nucleons. Their properties and interactions are described by nuclear physics. Protons and neutrons are not elementary particles; each is composed of three quarks.
To calculate the number of neutrons in arsenic-75, we need to understand the structure of an atom. An atom is identified by its atomic number and its atomic mass. The atomic number (Z) refers to the number of protons in an atom, and the atomic mass (A, also known as the mass number) is the sum of the protons and neutrons.
The atomic number of arsenic is 33, referring to its 33 protons. The '75' in arsenic-75 refers to its atomic mass. Hence, to calculate the number of neutrons, you subtract the atomic number from the atomic mass: 75 (atomic mass) - 33 (atomic number of arsenic) equals 42. So, arsenic-75 has 42 neutrons.
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