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11 grade chemistry others

Helium atoms have an atomic mass of 4 u and two protons in its nucleus. How many neutrons does it have?

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10 Months agoGrade
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1 Answer

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ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer10 Months ago

To determine the number of neutrons in a helium atom, we can use the atomic mass and the number of protons. Helium has an atomic mass of 4 atomic mass units (u) and contains 2 protons in its nucleus.

Calculating Neutrons

The formula to find the number of neutrons is:

  • Number of Neutrons = Atomic Mass - Number of Protons

Substituting the values for helium:

  • Atomic Mass = 4 u
  • Number of Protons = 2

Now, we can calculate:

  • Number of Neutrons = 4 - 2 = 2

Final Answer

Therefore, a helium atom has 2 neutrons in its nucleus.