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There are 64 particles in the nucleus of an atom. If this atom has 33 electrons and is neutral, how many protons AND neutrons does it have?

User Steve Boyd
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Final Answer:

The atom with 33 electrons and 64 particles in its nucleus would contain 33 protons and 31 neutrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. Given that the atom has 33 electrons, it must also contain 33 protons to maintain its neutrality. The total number of particles in the nucleus (protons + neutrons) is 64. As the number of protons is 33, subtracting this from the total particles gives us the number of neutrons. Hence, the number of neutrons would be 64 (total particles) - 33 (protons) = 31 neutrons.

Atoms consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons carry a positive charge, and their number determines the atomic number of an element. In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons. Therefore, with 33 electrons, the atom also contains 33 protons to maintain electrical neutrality.

The total number of particles in the nucleus (protons + neutrons) is represented by the atomic mass number. Given the total number of particles in the nucleus is 64 and the number of protons (which also equals the number of electrons) is 33, we can deduce the number of neutrons by subtracting the number of protons from the total particles, resulting in 31 neutrons. Thus, the atom has 33 protons and 31 neutrons in its nucleus.

User Remy Kabel
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