All isotopes of potassium will have the same number of protons inside their nucleus, i.e. You now know that the most abundant isotope of potassium contains #20# neutrons. This tells you that the most abundant isotope of potassium contains #19# protons and To find the number of neutrons, subtract the number of protons from the mass number. The mass number, 65, is the sum of the protons and the neutrons. Protons, neutrons and electrons: relative charge and relative mass. For all atoms with no charge, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. I recommend you to read this link, where it is easy and fun to learn about the way to calculate the number of neutrons of any element on the periodic table of elements. Hence, the Potassium number of neutrons are 20, 21 and 22. Hence, number of neutrons is 41 - 19 which is 22. The number of subatomic particles in an atom can be calculated from. 3.2.4 Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides (A-level only) (page 42). Potassium-41 - It has 19 protons and atomic mass is 41. This will get you the mass number of the most abundant potassium isotope. GCSE AQA Atomic structure Atoms consist of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons in shells. To do that, simply take the value of the relative atomic mass and round it to the nearest integer. You can use the relative atomic mass, #A_r#, of potassium to figure out how many neutrons are present in the most abundant potassium isotope. You can thus say that an atom of potassium contains #19# protons. As you can see, the answer is given away in the question, provided that you know what the atomic number is all about. I recommend you to read this link, where it is easy and fun to learn about the way to calculate the number of neutrons of any element on the periodic table of elements.This is a perfect example of a problem that wants to test your understanding of a basic concept.Īn element's atomic number tells you how many protons are present inside that element's nucleus. Potassium-41 - It has 19 protons and atomic mass is 41. Hence, number of neutrons is 40 - 19 which is 21. Potassium-40 - It has 19 protons and atomic mass is 40. Protons carry a positive electrical change, while electrons are negatively charged, and neutrons are neutral. Hence, number of neutrons is 39 - 19 which is 20. Atoms are made of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Potassium-39 - It has 19 protons and atomic mass is 39. An isotope is an atom of an element with the same number of protons, but differing numbers of neutrons, which means that isotopes have different atomic weights.īecause potassium has 3 isotopes, then we have to calculate for the different atomic weights of the isotopes: Number of neutrons = atomic mass number - atomic number Finally in order to calculate the number of neutrons of that element, you have to do some simple math: To continue with your calculation of number of neutrons, you also need to find the atomic mass of the element, which is written underneath the symbol of the element. Once there, you proceed to locate the “atomic number” of potassium which is the number in the upper left-hand corner of the square. Potassium has the symbol “K” and it is located in the column at the very right of the table here. In order to calculate the number of neutrons for any element in the Periodic Table of the Elements, you have to locate the element first.
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