Question

How many protons, neutrons, electrons, and nucleons are found in the following: O 17/8, AL 27/13, Co 60/27, Ra 226/88

Answer 1

The isotopes given have the following compositions:

1.
`\(^(17)_(8)O\)`: 8 protons, 9 neutrons.

2.
`\(^(27)_(13)Al\)`: 13 protons, 14 neutrons.

3.
`\(^(60)_(27)Co\)` : 27 protons, 33 neutrons.

4.
`\(^(226)_(88)Ra\)`: 88 protons, 138 neutrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

The notation
`\(^(A)_(Z)X\)` represents an isotope of element X, where A is the mass number (sum of protons and neutrons), and Z is the atomic number (number of protons). The number of protons is equal to Z, the number of electrons is also equal to Z in a neutral atom, and the number of neutrons is calculated by subtracting Z from A.

For example, for
`\(^(17)_(8)O\)`, there are 8 protons (Z = 8), 9 neutrons (A - Z = 17 - 8 = 9), and 8 electrons in a neutral atom. The total nucleons are the sum of protons and neutrons, so it's 17 in this case.

Similarly, for
`\(^(27)_(13)Al\)`, there are 13 protons, 14 neutrons, and 13 electrons. The total nucleons are 27. This pattern continues for the other isotopes provided.

Understanding these numbers is fundamental to comprehending the structure and behavior of atoms. The arrangement of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, along with electrons in the electron cloud, defines the properties and reactivity of each element. The balance between protons and electrons determines the overall charge of the atom.