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

Beryllium has 4 protons, 5 neutrons and 4 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Beryllium

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 beryllium.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Beryllium

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 Beryllium (Be).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of beryllium is 4.

As the atomic number of beryllium is 4, it has a total of 4 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Beryllium is 4.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Beryllium

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

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

The atomic mass of beryllium is 9.012 u (which you can round it to 9). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 9), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 4).

So you will get 9 – 4 = 5.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Beryllium is 5.

#3 Number of Electrons in Beryllium

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

Here, the beryllium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in beryllium 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 beryllium is 4.

Thus, the number of electrons in Beryllium is 4.

Summary

Number of Protons in Beryllium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Beryllium = Atomic number of Beryllium = 4

Number of Neutrons in Beryllium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Beryllium = Atomic mass of Beryllium – Atomic number of Beryllium = 9 – 4 = 5

Number of Electrons in Beryllium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Beryllium = Atomic number of Beryllium = 4

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
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Magnesium protons neutrons electrons
Potassium protons neutrons electrons
Calcium protons neutrons electrons
Strontium protons neutrons electrons