Aluminum Protons Neutrons Electrons (And How to Find them?)

Aluminum has 13 protons, 14 neutrons and 13 electrons.

But how will you find the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in Aluminum (Al)?

Well, it is very easy to find the protons, neutrons and electrons of aluminum atom.

Here I have given a very simple method for finding the protons, neutrons and electrons of aluminum atom.

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Aluminum

How to find protons?

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom. ^[1]

How to find neutrons?

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.

How to find electrons?

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.

Let’s calculate the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in aluminum.

If you don’t want to read, then you can also watch this video.

#1 Number of Protons in Aluminum

If you have a periodic table with you, then most of the answers are in front of you.

You can see the elements, their atomic number and their atomic mass from the periodic table.

Now here our element is Aluminum (Al).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of aluminum is 13.

As the atomic number of aluminum is 13, it has a total of 13 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Aluminum is 13.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Aluminum

In order to find the number of neutrons of aluminum atom, you should know its atomic mass first.

The number of neutrons in aluminum can be obtained by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.

The atomic mass of aluminum is 26.982 u (which you can round it to 27). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 27), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 13).

So you will get 27 – 13 = 14.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Aluminum is 14.

#3 Number of Electrons in Aluminum

For a neutral atom, the number of electrons and the number of protons are the same.

Here, the aluminum atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in aluminum is equal to its number of protons (which is also equal to its atomic number).

In the beginning, we have found that the number of protons in aluminum is 13.

Thus, the number of electrons in Aluminum is 13.

Summary

Number of Protons in Aluminum

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Aluminum = Atomic number of Aluminum = 13

Number of Neutrons in Aluminum

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Aluminum = Atomic mass of Aluminum – Atomic number of Aluminum = 27 – 13 = 14

Number of Electrons in Aluminum

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Aluminum = Atomic number of Aluminum = 13

I hope you have understood the simple method for finding the protons, neutrons and electrons of aluminum atom.

Check out related topics for more practice;
Silicon protons neutrons electrons
Phosphorus protons neutrons electrons
Sulfur protons neutrons electrons
Chlorine protons neutrons electrons
Argon protons neutrons electrons