Question

How do you calculate the protons, neutrons, and electrons of fluorine?

Answer 1

To calculate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom of fluorine (F), you need to look at its atomic number and atomic mass.

1. Protons: The atomic number of an element indicates the number of protons in its nucleus. For fluorine, the atomic number is 9. Therefore, fluorine has 9 protons.

2. Neutrons: The atomic mass of an element represents the total number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. The atomic mass of fluorine is approximately 19. The atomic mass is usually given as a decimal number because it accounts for the isotopic abundance of different isotopes of the element. To find the number of neutrons, subtract the number of protons (atomic number) from the atomic mass. In this case, 19 - 9 = 10. Therefore, fluorine has 10 neutrons.

3. Electrons: In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. Since fluorine has 9 protons, it also has 9 electrons.

So, the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in fluorine is:

• Protons: 9
• Neutrons: 10
• Electrons: 9