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Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions
Chapter 2, Problem 23a

Consider an atom of 10B. (a) How many protons, neutrons, and electrons does this atom contain?

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Atomic Structure

Atoms are the basic units of matter, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons are positively charged particles found in the nucleus, while neutrons are neutral particles also located in the nucleus. Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus. The number of protons defines the element, while the total number of protons and neutrons gives the atomic mass.
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Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. For example, the isotope 10B (Boron-10) has 5 protons and 5 neutrons, distinguishing it from other isotopes of boron, such as 11B, which has 6 neutrons. Isotopes can have different physical properties and stability.
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Charge Neutrality

Atoms are electrically neutral when the number of protons equals the number of electrons. In a neutral atom, the positive charge of protons balances the negative charge of electrons. Therefore, for an atom of 10B, which has 5 protons, it will also have 5 electrons to maintain this charge neutrality.
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