Question

What is the number of each subatomic particle in copper?

Answer 1

Hint: Copper is the first element of group \[11\]. At elementary level, the number of electrons, protons and neutrons are considered as subatomic particles.

Complete step by step answer:
We know that copper is in period \[4\]and it is the first element of the group \[11\]. The atomic number of the last element in period \[4\]is \[18{\text{ (Ar)}}\].
Thus, atomic number of copper, \[{\text{Cu}} = 18 + 11 = 29\]
Now, number of protons \[ = \] atomic number\[ = 29\]
In a neutral atom, the number of protons must be equal to the number of electrons.
Thus, number of electrons\[ = 29\]
The most abundant isotope of copper is \[{}_{29}^{63}{\text{Cu}}\], in which the mass number of copper is \[63\].
Number of neutrons \[ = \] mass number\[ - \]atomic number
\[ = 63 - 29\]
\[ = 34\]
Hence, following subatomic particles are present in an atom of copper: number of electrons are \[29\], number of protons are \[29\] and number of neutrons are \[34\].

Additional Information:
Subatomic particles are either elementary or composite. An elementary particle is not made up of multiple other particles but a composite particle is made of more than one elementary particle bound together. Actually, protons and neutrons are composite particles.
As of 2020, according to standard model of particle physics, there are following types of elementary particles:
1.Six types of leptons
2.Six flavours of quarks
3.Twelve gauge bosons
4.Three \[{\text{W}}\]and \[{\text{Z}}\]bosons
5.Eight gluons
6.A photon
7.Higgs boson

Note: In a less abundant isotope of copper, i.e., \[{}_{29}^{65}{\text{Cu}}\], number of electrons and protons will remain the same but the number of neutrons will differ.