Question

If an atom of germanium has a mass number of 70 and an atomic number of 32, how many neutrons are in its nucleus?

Options:
a. 32
b. 38
c. 42
d. 70

Answer 1

To determine the number of neutrons in an atom of germanium with a mass number of 70 and an atomic number of 32, we subtract the atomic number from the mass number, giving us 38 neutrons in the nucleus.

Step-by-step explanation:

An atom of germanium (Ge) has a mass number of 70 and an atomic number of 32. To find the number of neutrons in its nucleus, we subtract the atomic number from the mass number. This is similar to other elements, for example, uranium, which has an atomic number of 92 and a mass number of 235, giving it 143 neutrons in the nucleus. For germanium, we calculate the number of neutrons as follows:

Number of neutrons = Mass number - Atomic number

Number of neutrons = 70 - 32 = 38

So, the correct number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of germanium with a mass number of 70 is 38, which is option b.