A lithium atom consists of 3 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons. This atom contains a total of
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
A lithium atom consists of 3 protons, 4 neutrons, and 3 electrons, which adds up to a total of 10 subatomic particles.
Explanation
Atoms are the basic units of matter, and they are composed of three main types of subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.
- Protons are positively charged particles located in the nucleus (the center) of the atom. They determine the atomic number and thus the identity of the element. Lithium has an atomic number of 3, meaning it has 3 protons in its nucleus.
- Neutrons are neutral particles (they have no charge) that also reside in the nucleus. They add mass to the atom and help stabilize the nucleus by offsetting the repulsion between positively charged protons. In this case, the lithium atom has 4 neutrons.
- Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in regions called electron shells or energy levels. In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons to balance the overall charge. Since this lithium atom is neutral, it has 3 electrons.
To find the total number of subatomic particles in this lithium atom, we simply add the number of each type:
- Protons: 3
- Neutrons: 4
- Electrons: 3
Total = 3 + 4 + 3 = 10 subatomic particles
It is important to note that this total refers to the count of subatomic particles, not the atomic mass or charge. The mass number (the sum of protons and neutrons) for this lithium atom is 7 (3 + 4), which helps distinguish isotopes. In this case, the isotope is lithium-7, the most stable and naturally abundant form.
Understanding subatomic composition is essential in chemistry and physics, as it affects an atom’s properties, behavior in chemical reactions, and its place on the periodic table
