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

Fluorine has 9 protons, 10 neutrons and 9 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Fluorine

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 fluorine.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Fluorine

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 Fluorine (F).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of fluorine is 9.

As the atomic number of fluorine is 9, it has a total of 9 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Fluorine is 9.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Fluorine

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

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

The atomic mass of fluorine is 18.998 u (which you can round it to 19). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 19), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 9).

So you will get 19 – 9 = 10.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Fluorine is 10.

#3 Number of Electrons in Fluorine

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

Here, the fluorine atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in fluorine 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 fluorine is 9.

Thus, the number of electrons in Fluorine is 9.

Summary

Number of Protons in Fluorine

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Fluorine = Atomic number of Fluorine = 9

Number of Neutrons in Fluorine

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Fluorine = Atomic mass of Fluorine – Atomic number of Fluorine = 19 – 9 = 10

Number of Electrons in Fluorine

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Fluorine = Atomic number of Fluorine = 9

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Neon protons neutrons electrons
Aluminum protons neutrons electrons
Silicon protons neutrons electrons
Phosphorus protons neutrons electrons
Sulfur protons neutrons electrons