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

Chlorine has 17 protons, 17 neutrons and 17 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Chlorine

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 chlorine.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Chlorine

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 Chlorine (Cl).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of chlorine is 17.

As the atomic number of chlorine is 17, it has a total of 17 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Chlorine is 17.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Chlorine

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

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

The atomic mass of chlorine is 35.45 u (which you can round it to 34). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 34), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 17).

So you will get 34 – 17 = 17.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Chlorine is 17.

#3 Number of Electrons in Chlorine

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

Here, the chlorine atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in chlorine 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 chlorine is 17.

Thus, the number of electrons in Chlorine is 17.

Summary

Number of Protons in Chlorine

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Chlorine = Atomic number of Chlorine = 17

Number of Neutrons in Chlorine

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Chlorine = Atomic mass of Chlorine – Atomic number of Chlorine = 34 – 17 = 17

Number of Electrons in Chlorine

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Chlorine = Atomic number of Chlorine = 17

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Argon protons neutrons electrons
Germanium protons neutrons electrons
Arsenic protons neutrons electrons
Selenium protons neutrons electrons
Bromine protons neutrons electrons