Fill in the gaps in the following table, assuming each column represents a neutral atom.
Symbol ¹¹²Cd
Protons 38 92
Neutrons 58 49
Electrons 38 36
Mass no. 81 235
Complete the first row of the table.

Key Concepts

Atomic Structure

Atoms consist 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 and orbit the nucleus. The number of protons defines the element, while the total number of protons and neutrons gives the atomic mass.

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This results in different atomic masses for the isotopes of the same element. For example, Cadmium (Cd) can have isotopes with varying neutron counts, affecting its stability and abundance.

Mass Number

The mass number of an atom is the total count of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. It is represented as a superscript to the left of the element's symbol. For instance, in the notation 112Cd, the mass number is 112, indicating that the sum of protons and neutrons in this isotope of Cadmium is 112.