Atomic Number Chemistry Example 4
Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.
Example 4
easyAn atom has atomic number 15. How many protons does it have? If the atom is neutral, how many electrons does it have?
Solution
- 1 Atomic number equals the number of protons, so the atom has 15 protons.
- 2 A neutral atom has the same number of electrons as protons, so it also has 15 electrons.
Answer
15 protons and 15 electrons.
Atomic number is a direct count of protons. In a neutral atom, the negative charge from electrons balances the positive charge from protons.
About Atomic Number
The number of protons in an atom's nucleus, which uniquely identifies the element and determines its position in the periodic table.
Learn more about Atomic Number →More Atomic Number Examples
Example 1 easy
Element X has 15 protons. Identify the element and determine the number of electrons in a neutral at
Example 2 mediumTwo atoms both have a mass number of 40. Atom A has 20 protons and Atom B has 19 protons. Are they t
Example 3 easyWhat is the atomic number of an element with 29 protons? Name the element.