How many electrons are in this element?
Answer (2)
The atomic number of the element is 14.
In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons, which is the atomic number.
Therefore, the number of electrons is 14.
The number of electrons in the element is 14 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem The problem asks us to find the number of electrons in an element, given its atomic number and mass number. The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, and it also determines the element's position in the periodic table. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
Identifying Atomic and Mass Numbers The element is represented as:
29
14 X
where X is the element symbol. The number 14 is the atomic number (number of protons), and 29 is the mass number (number of protons + neutrons).
Determining the Number of Electrons Since the atom is neutral, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. The atomic number is 14, so the number of protons is 14. Therefore, the number of electrons is also 14.
Final Answer Thus, the number of electrons in the element is 14 .
Examples
Understanding the number of electrons in an atom is crucial in chemistry. For example, when studying chemical reactions, knowing the electron configuration of an atom helps predict how it will interact with other atoms. If an atom has an incomplete outer electron shell, it may form chemical bonds with other atoms to achieve a stable electron configuration. This concept is fundamental in understanding how molecules are formed and how chemical reactions occur.
The number of electrons in an element is equal to its atomic number, provided the atom is neutral. Therefore, if the atomic number is 14, the number of electrons is 14 . This fundamental principle applies to all neutral atoms in chemistry.
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