Final answer:
Pink Himalayan salt usually does not contain iodine like iodized table salt. An iodine anion with a mass number of 127 has 53 protons, 74 neutrons, and 54 electrons. Seaweed like kelp was a traditional source of iodine before iodized salt became common.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pink Himalayan salt does not typically contain iodine in significant amounts like iodized table salt does. The small amounts of iodine added to table salt, also known as iodized salt, have virtually eliminated concerns related to iodine deficiency in many parts of the world, though it remains a problem for up to 40% of the global population.
An iodine anion added to table salt has a 1- charge and a mass number of 127. To determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an iodine anion with these characteristics, we look at the atomic number of iodine which is 53, indicating there are 53 protons. The number of neutrons can be calculated by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number, thus 127 - 53 = 74 neutrons. For the electrons, since the iodine is in the form of an anion with a 1- charge, it has one extra electron, so it has 53 (from the protons) + 1 = 54 electrons.
Before the development of iodized salt, a common dietary source of iodine was seaweed, such as kelp, which contains large amounts of iodide ion naturally, preventing iodine deficiency and associated health problems.