How many protons, and neutrons does the #""^210Po# isotope contain?

1 Answer
anor277
Feb 5, 2018

Well the Periodic Table tells us that for polonium, #Z=84#..of course you don't have to remember this...you are expected to be able to look it up...

Explanation:

And when we write the symbol, #Po#, this automatically specifies that #Z=84#...i.e. the element polonium is defined by the presence of #84# CHARGED nucular particles; and this particular isotope contains #210-84=126*"neutrons"#....and so would write #""^210Po# as the defining symbol....#underbrace(Z)_"number of protons"+"number of neutrons"=84+126=210("mass number")#.

Clear as mud, ain't it?

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