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

Cerium has 58 protons, 82 neutrons and 58 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Cerium

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 cerium.

#1 Number of Protons in Cerium

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 Cerium (Ce).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of cerium is 58.

As the atomic number of cerium is 58, it has a total of 58 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Cerium is 58.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Cerium

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

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

The atomic mass of cerium is 140.12 u (which you can round it to 140). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 140), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 58).

So you will get 140 – 58 = 82.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Cerium is 82.

#3 Number of Electrons in Cerium

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

Here, the cerium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in cerium 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 cerium is 58.

Thus, the number of electrons in Cerium is 58.

Summary

Number of Protons in Cerium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Cerium = Atomic number of Cerium = 58

Number of Neutrons in Cerium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Cerium = Atomic mass of Cerium – Atomic number of Cerium = 140 – 58 = 82

Number of Electrons in Cerium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Cerium = Atomic number of Cerium = 58

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Samarium protons neutrons electrons
Europium protons neutrons electrons
Ytterbium protons neutrons electrons
Thorium protons neutrons electrons
Uranium protons neutrons electrons