How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Chlorine have
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Chlorine (Cl) has an atomic number of 17, which means it has 17 protons. The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons, so chlorine also has 17 electrons.
To find the number of neutrons, we need to know the atomic mass of chlorine. Chlorine commonly exists as two isotopes:
- Chlorine-35 (Cl-35), with an atomic mass of about 35.
- Chlorine-37 (Cl-37), with an atomic mass of about 37.
For Chlorine-35:
- Number of neutrons = Atomic mass – Atomic number
- Number of neutrons = 35 – 17 = 18 neutrons
For Chlorine-37:
- Number of neutrons = 37 – 17 = 20 neutrons
Thus, chlorine can have either 18 or 20 neutrons depending on the isotope.
Explanation:
- Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom. The number of protons defines the element, and in chlorine’s case, that number is 17.
- Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in electron shells. In a neutral chlorine atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons, meaning chlorine has 17 electrons.
- Neutrons are neutral particles (no charge) that are also found in the nucleus. The number of neutrons can vary among isotopes of the same element. Chlorine has two stable isotopes, Cl-35 and Cl-37, which differ in their neutron count.
Thus, chlorine in its most common isotope (Cl-35) has 17 protons, 18 neutrons, and 17 electrons. For the isotope Cl-37, it would have 17 protons, 20 neutrons, and 17 electrons.
