Potassium, represented by the symbol K on the periodic table, has an atomic number of 19. This means it has 19 protons in its nucleus. To determine the number of neutrons in potassium, we need to consider its most common isotope, which has a mass number of approximately 39.
The mass number is the sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Therefore, to find the number of neutrons, we can use the following formula:
Number of Neutrons = Mass Number – Atomic Number
Substituting the values for potassium:
Number of Neutrons = 39 – 19 = 20
So, potassium typically has 20 neutrons. However, it’s important to note that potassium has several isotopes, and the number of neutrons can vary slightly among these isotopes.