Typically, potassium has 20 neutrons.
Potassium (K) is a chemical element with atomic number 19. This means that every potassium atom has 19 protons. The number of neutrons can vary, leading to different isotopes of potassium. The most common isotope of potassium, Potassium-39 (39K), has a mass number of 39.
To calculate the number of neutrons, you subtract the atomic number (number of protons) from the mass number:
Number of Neutrons = Mass Number - Atomic Number
For Potassium-39:
Number of Neutrons = 39 - 19 = 20
However, it's important to remember that potassium also has other isotopes, such as Potassium-40 (40K) and Potassium-41 (41K), which would have 21 and 22 neutrons, respectively. When someone asks "how many neutrons does potassium have?" they are generally referring to the most abundant and stable isotope.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 19 |
| Common Isotope | Potassium-39 |
| Number of Protons | 19 |
| Number of Neutrons in Potassium-39 | 20 |
