To find the number of neutrons in an oxygen atom, subtract the atomic number (number of protons) from the mass number (total number of protons and neutrons).
Here's a step-by-step breakdown:
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Identify the Atomic Number: Oxygen has an atomic number of 8. This means every oxygen atom has 8 protons.
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Determine the Mass Number: The most common isotope of oxygen has a mass number of 16. The mass number can vary because oxygen has different isotopes (atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons). If a different isotope is specified (e.g., Oxygen-17), use that mass number instead.
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Calculate the Number of Neutrons: Subtract the atomic number from the mass number:
- Number of Neutrons = Mass Number - Atomic Number
- Number of Neutrons = 16 - 8 = 8
Therefore, a typical oxygen atom (Oxygen-16) has 8 neutrons.
Example with a Different Isotope (Oxygen-17):
If you were dealing with Oxygen-17, the calculation would be:
- Number of Neutrons = Mass Number - Atomic Number
- Number of Neutrons = 17 - 8 = 9
In this case, Oxygen-17 would have 9 neutrons.
Summary:
The number of neutrons in an oxygen atom depends on the isotope. For Oxygen-16, there are 8 neutrons. For other isotopes like Oxygen-17, the number of neutrons will differ. Always use the correct mass number for the specific isotope.
