Question

Neutrons

Aluminum (Al) has 14 neutrons. Explain the 2 calculation steps on how to figure out that Aluminum has 14 neutrons?

a) Subtract the atomic number from the mass number.
b) Add the atomic number and the mass number.
c) Multiply the atomic number by 2.
d) Divide the mass number by the atomic number.

Answer 1

To calculate that aluminum has 14 neutrons, subtract its atomic number of 13 from its mass number of 27, resulting in 14, which is the number of neutrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine that aluminum (Al) has 14 neutrons, we follow these two calculation steps:

1. Subtract the atomic number (the number of protons) from the mass number (the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus).
2. Check the periodic table to find that the atomic number of aluminum is 13, which means it has 13 protons.

The mass number of the most common isotope of aluminum is 27 (it can be found on the periodic table or in reference books). To find the number of neutrons, we use the formula: mass number - atomic number = number of neutrons, which in the case of aluminum is 27 - 13 = 14 neutrons.