Zinc is a chemical element with the atomic number 30. This means that a zinc atom has 30 protons in its nucleus. Since atoms are electrically neutral, the number of electrons in a zinc atom is also 30.
The number of neutrons in a zinc atom can vary, as zinc has several isotopes. The most common isotope of zinc is Zinc-64, which has 34 neutrons. To find the number of neutrons in a specific isotope, you subtract the atomic number (30) from the mass number of the isotope. For example, in Zinc-64, the number of neutrons is 64 – 30 = 34.
In summary:
- Protons: 30
- Electrons: 30
- Neutrons: 34 (for the most common isotope, Zinc-64)