Question

If atom X has an atomic number of 74, it would have which of the following?

1) 37 protons and 37 neutrons
2) 37 electrons
3) 74 protons
4) 37 protons and 37 electrons

Answer 1

Atom X with an atomic number of 74 must have 74 protons, as the atomic number determines the number of protons present in the nucleus of the atom. The correct option is 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

If atom X has an atomic number of 74, this means that it must have 74 protons. The atomic number of an element corresponds to the number of protons in the nucleus of its atoms.

Therefore, out of the options provided, the one that correctly represents an atom with an atomic number of 74 is 74 protons.

It is important to note that the number of protons also determines the number of electrons in a neutral atom, so the atom would have 74 electrons as well. The number of neutrons can vary depending on the isotope but is not indicated solely by the atomic number. The correct option is 3.