Need a Bit of Help

[tbone4690]

I can't seem to remember how to find the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an isotope can anyone help me?

[tbone4690]

Now I need the ions of Phosphorus.

[Deevo2]

I can't seem to remember how to find the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an isotope can anyone help me?

Alright, no problemo. Protons are easy, that's just the atomic number of the atom. Neutrons are simply taking the atomic weight of said isotope and subtracting protons

lets take a REALLY easy example

Hydrogen. Atomic Number:1
Atomic Weight: 1.0079

Now, this is ofcourse the most common of isotopes of Hydrogen, also written ¹H, which accounts for 99.9% of all hydrogen. The atomic number is 1, so it has 1 proton. 1.0079 - 1 = .0079 ~ 0, so it has 0 neutrons (Neutrons have to be a whole number, no decimals allowed, so round your number)

If you had ²H (deuterium), the atomic weight is 2.0079. Atomic number 1, so 1 proton. 2.0079-1 = 1.0079 ~ 1, so one neutron

This also goes for ³H (tritium) atomic weight 3.0079. 1 proton, 3.0079 -1 = 2.0079 ~ 2, so 2 neutrons

Isotopes of phosphorus... you'd have to check your text, but if my memory is right, then Phosphorus is #15, so 15 protons, and molecular weight is something like 30.95? so 16 neutrons... but my memory might be wrong, check me on that
And If I can remember from first year, then that is the only isotope of phosphorus that happens naturally, all others are synthesised and experience beta decay (creating sulphur)

[tbone4690]

So phosphate is the only one. I thought so, I'll ask my teacher tomorrow and make sure on that one. Do you know how many protons, neutrons, and electrons are in it.

[Deevo2]

yeah, like I said Phosphorus has 15 Protons, 16 neutrons

[tbone4690]

So what would the electrons be again, sorry if you said it already I'm a bit tired and can't really think.

[Deevo2]

So what would the electrons be again, sorry if you said it already I'm a bit tired and can't really think.

Oh, ok, Never knew you wanted to know that. Electrons are what balance off the positive charge of the protons. Their weight is negligible, so they dont effect the overall weight. There are the same amount of them as the protons. So phosphorus has 15 protons, and hence has 15 electrons.

This doesn't hold true for Ions tho. If you want to know about ions, let me know

[tbone4690]

Yeah, I need to know for ions. I need the amount of electrons for ions.

[Deevo2]

Ok, it's really easy. Whatever the charge for the ion is, just subtract it from the normal amount of electrons in the atom.
Lets play with the clorine cation. Clorine normally has 17 electrons (Because it is atomic #17, so 17 protons, 17 electrons) But when you turn it into it's cation, Cl-1, it gains an electron, so it's like this

17 - (-1) = 18 electrons

Now lets do sodium. Sodium is normally # 11, so 11 protons, 11 electrons. But its anion, Na+1, is like this
11 - (+1) = 10. It loses an electron to gain it's possitive charge. Get it?

[tbone4690]

So phosphate has a -3 charge it would be 18 for electrons right?

[Deevo2]

yup, You got it!

[tbone4690]

Alright, thanks for the help you saved me hours of searching on the internet.

[Deevo2]

No prob man, anymore of these Chem questions, shoot away. I can also give you a hand with any Bio or Biochem stuff... the beauty of being a Biochem major... you learn alotta stuff!

[tbone4690]

I may have to cite you for my report and maybe throw in some spam of xln. :D

[Deevo2]

hahahaha for some reason, I dont think your works cited page should say

DeevoSee, "Need a little help", post 3,5,7,9. XLN Forum <http://www.xboxlivenation.com/community/showthread.php?t=1463>

... you may just get an F!

[Sniper Kitten]

hahahaha for some reason, I dont think your works cited page should say

DeevoSee, "Need a little help", post 3,5,7,9. XLN Forum <http://www.xboxlivenation.com/community/showthread.php?t=1463>

... you may just get an F!
LOL.... thats funny...

You should cite him for craps and giggles... LOL

[tbone4690]

I said Deevo2, www.xboxlivenation.com, it's the end of the year who cares, kids in my class were citing others kids in the class so I took someone from a site.

[gebbie]

haha senior year was good.. i didnt really care about anything but girls and 420 when i was in high school.. maybe that's why i had to go to summer school to graduate? haha

[tbone4690]

I'm not a senior yet, I'm still a junior. Next year I will be a senior.