In a neutral argon-40 atom, the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons can be determined based on its atomic mass and atomic number.
Firstly, argon is the 18th element on the periodic table, which means it has 18 protons. In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons, so there are also 18 electrons.
To find the number of neutrons, we subtract the atomic number from the atomic mass. The atomic mass of argon-40 is 40. Therefore:
Number of Neutrons = Atomic Mass – Atomic Number
Number of Neutrons = 40 – 18 = 22
So, in a neutral argon-40 atom, there are:
- Protons: 18
- Electrons: 18
- Neutrons: 22
In summary, a neutral argon-40 atom consists of 18 protons, 18 electrons, and 22 neutrons.