To determine the number of protons and neutrons in an iodine atom with an atomic mass of 127 amu, we can start by identifying the atomic number of iodine. Iodine has an atomic number of 53, which means it has 53 protons.
The atomic mass of an atom is approximately equal to the total number of protons and neutrons. Therefore, to find the number of neutrons, we can use the following formula:
Number of Neutrons = Atomic Mass – Number of Protons
Substituting in the values:
Number of Neutrons = 127 – 53 = 74
So, an atom of iodine with an atomic mass of 127 amu contains 53 protons and 74 neutrons.