How do you determine the number of protons and electrons for each atom ?
2 Answers
Look at its position on the periodic table...
Explanation:
You should always have a periodic table for your science classes, and so that comes in handy when identifying elements. When you want to know how many protons an atom has, look at its atomic number on the periodic table, and that is also its proton number.
The electron number varies. If it is a neutral element, as if we usually consider it to be so, then the electron number will equal to the proton number.
If it's an ion however, the electron number is either more or less than the proton number, depending if it's a cation or an anion. Cations have a positive charge, and so have less electrons than protons, while anions have a negative charge, and therefore have more electrons than protons.
The number of protons is determined by the atomic number which can be found on the periodic table. The electrons are always the same as the protons in a neutral atom.
Explanation:
The protons are positive in nature. The level of positive charge is a measure of the number of protons. The level of positive charge is found on the periodic table as the atomic number.
Electrons are negative in nature. The level of negative charge is equal to the level of positive charge. So in a neutral atom the number of electrons is always equal to the number of protons.
The number of electrons in a neutral atom is always equal to the atomic number, found on the periodic table.
