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

Copper has 29 protons, 35 neutrons and 29 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Copper

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 copper.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Copper

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 Copper (Cu).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of copper is 29.

As the atomic number of copper is 29, it has a total of 29 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Copper is 29.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Copper

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

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

The atomic mass of copper is 63.546 u (which you can round it to 64). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 64), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 29).

So you will get 64 – 29 = 35.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Copper is 35.

#3 Number of Electrons in Copper

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

Here, the copper atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in copper 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 copper is 29.

Thus, the number of electrons in Copper is 29.

Summary

Number of Protons in Copper

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Copper = Atomic number of Copper = 29

Number of Neutrons in Copper

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Copper = Atomic mass of Copper – Atomic number of Copper = 64 – 29 = 35

Number of Electrons in Copper

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Copper = Atomic number of Copper = 29

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Zinc protons neutrons electrons
Zirconium protons neutrons electrons
Niobium protons neutrons electrons
Molybdenum protons neutrons electrons
Ruthenium protons neutrons electrons