how many protons are in an atom of phosphorus? which Atomic Number is 15, Atomic Mass is 31, Neutrons is 16 and Electrons 15.
The correct answer and explanation is:
An atom of phosphorus has 15 protons.
Phosphorus is an element with an atomic number of 15. The atomic number refers to the number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom. Since the atomic number of phosphorus is 15, this means that a neutral atom of phosphorus will always have 15 protons.
The atomic mass (also known as the atomic weight) of phosphorus is approximately 31. This value is the weighted average mass of all naturally occurring isotopes of phosphorus. The atomic mass is calculated by adding the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. For phosphorus, the atomic mass is 31, and since it has 15 protons, the remaining mass is due to the neutrons.
The number of neutrons in a phosphorus atom can be found by subtracting the number of protons from the atomic mass:
Atomic mass – Atomic number = Number of neutrons
31 – 15 = 16 neutrons.
The number of electrons in a neutral atom of phosphorus is also 15, matching the number of protons. Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus. In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons, which ensures that the atom has no overall electrical charge.
In summary, the phosphorus atom contains:
- 15 protons (determined by the atomic number),
- 16 neutrons (calculated by subtracting the number of protons from the atomic mass),
- 15 electrons (equal to the number of protons in a neutral atom).
This configuration gives the phosphorus atom its unique properties and allows it to participate in chemical reactions, particularly in forming compounds like phosphates in biological systems.