Indicate the number of protons and neutrons in the following nuclei: (c) neptunium-237.

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Identify the element from the given isotope, which in this case is neptunium (Np).

Determine the atomic number of neptunium by referring to the periodic table. The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus.

Understand that the number given in the isotope name (neptunium-237) represents the mass number, which is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

Calculate the number of neutrons by subtracting the atomic number (number of protons) from the mass number.

Summarize the findings by stating the number of protons and neutrons in neptunium-237.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Atomic Structure

Atoms consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus, while neutrons are neutral particles that also reside in the nucleus. The number of protons defines the element, while the total number of protons and neutrons gives the atomic mass.

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. For example, neptunium-237 has 93 protons (as it is neptunium) and 144 neutrons, distinguishing it from other isotopes of neptunium, which may have different neutron counts.

Nuclear Notation

Nuclear notation is a shorthand representation of an isotope, typically written as 'Element-Mass Number'. For neptunium-237, the notation indicates that the element is neptunium (Np) with a mass number of 237, which is the sum of its protons and neutrons, allowing for easy identification of its nuclear composition.

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