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.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the number of protons in the given isotope of cadmium, \( ^{112}\text{Cd} \). The atomic number of cadmium (Cd) is 48, which means it has 48 protons.
2. Determine the number of neutrons in \( ^{112}\text{Cd} \) by using the mass number formula: \( \text{Mass number} = \text{Protons} + \text{Neutrons} \). Here, the mass number is 112, so solve for neutrons: \( 112 = 48 + \text{Neutrons} \).
3. Calculate the number of electrons in a neutral atom of \( ^{112}\text{Cd} \). In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons, so there are 48 electrons.
4. Verify the mass number for \( ^{112}\text{Cd} \) using the formula: \( \text{Mass number} = \text{Protons} + \text{Neutrons} \). Ensure it matches the given mass number of 112.
5. Fill in the table with the calculated values: Protons = 48, Neutrons = 64, Electrons = 48, Mass number = 112.

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.