Neon has 10 neutrons.
To understand why, we need to look at what defines an element. Neon, symbolized as Ne, is a noble gas and is found in group 18 of the periodic table. The atomic number of neon is 10, which means it has 10 protons in its nucleus. The number of neutrons can vary in isotopes of neon, but the most common isotope, neon-20, has 10 neutrons.
The atomic mass of an element is primarily determined by the sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus. For neon-20, the calculation for neutrons is straightforward: you take the atomic mass (20) and subtract the number of protons (10). Thus, 20 – 10 = 10 neutrons.
This understanding of protons and neutrons is essential in chemistry and helps explain the stability and behavior of the neon atom.