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Ch.2 - Atoms & Elements
Chapter 2, Problem 57d

Determine the number of protons and the number of neutrons in each isotope. d. 20882Pb

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Key Concepts

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

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This means they share the same atomic number but have different mass numbers. For example, lead (Pb) has several isotopes, including 208Pb, which has 82 protons and a varying number of neutrons.
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Atomic Number and Mass Number

The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in its nucleus, which defines the element. The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. For the isotope 208Pb, the atomic number is 82, indicating it has 82 protons, while the mass number of 208 indicates the total number of protons and neutrons combined.
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Calculating Neutrons

To find the number of neutrons in an isotope, subtract the atomic number from the mass number. In the case of 208Pb, the number of neutrons can be calculated as 208 (mass number) - 82 (atomic number) = 126 neutrons. This calculation is essential for understanding the composition of isotopes.
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Guided course
01:38
Neutron-to-Proton Plot