Question

How many protons and neutrons are there in $$\text{F}{\text{e}}^{56}$$?

Answer 1

Hint:Protons, neutrons, and electrons are the subatomic particles of an atom. To calculate the number of protons and neutrons present in the $$\text{F}{\text{e}}^{56}$$atomic number and atomic mass of iron are required. Here, the atomic mass is given as 56 and for the atomic number of iron, we have to refer to the periodic table.

Complete solution:
The given element is iron represented using the elemental symbol $$\text{Fe}$$. Iron is the d-block element placed in the 3rd period and group 8 (VIIIb) in the periodic table.
The atomic number of an element is equal to the number of protons present in it. The atomic number of iron is 26; it indicates there are 26 protons present in the iron.
Using the formula of atomic mass determine the number of neutrons present in the iron.
The mass number of iron given is 56.
$$Atomicmass=numberofprotons+numberofneutrons$$
Rearrange the given formula of atomic mass for the number of neutrons.
$$numberofneutrons=Atomicmass-numberofprotons$$
Now, substitute 56 for the atomic mass and 26 for the number of protons to calculate the number of neutrons.
$$numberofneutrons=Atomicmass-numberofprotons$$
$$numberofneutrons=56-26$$
$$numberofneutrons=30$$
The number of neutrons present in $$\text{F}{\text{e}}^{56}$$are 30 and the number of protons present are 26.

Note: Atomic number represents the number of protons or electrons present in the element. While the mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons present in the nucleus of an element. The atomic number of an atom is always less than the atomic mass number of an atom.