How many protons, electrons, and neutrons does a neutral atom of an element with atomic number 48 and mass number 120 contain?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 27, 2016

The element is characterized by the number of protons, massive, positively charged nuclear particles. Here #Z=48#

Explanation:

The mass of an atom is the sum of massive nuclear particles, protons (as above), and neutrons, neutrally charged, massive nuclear particles. Here the number of neutrons #=# #120-48=?#

In the neutral element, if there are #48# positive charges, there are #48# negative particles, i.e. #48# electrons, conceived to orbit the massive core.

I could describe the element as #""^120M#, where #Z=48#. What is the name of the element, and what is its symbol?

Related questions
See all questions in Mass Number
Impact of this question
6146 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License