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

Germanium has 32 protons, 41 neutrons and 32 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Germanium

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 germanium.

#1 Number of Protons in Germanium

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 Germanium (Ge).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of germanium is 32.

As the atomic number of germanium is 32, it has a total of 32 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Germanium is 32.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Germanium

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

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

The atomic mass of germanium is 72.630 u (which you can round it to 73). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 73), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 32).

So you will get 73 – 32 = 41.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Germanium is 41.

#3 Number of Electrons in Germanium

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

Here, the germanium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in germanium 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 germanium is 32.

Thus, the number of electrons in Germanium is 32.

Summary

Number of Protons in Germanium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Germanium = Atomic number of Germanium = 32

Number of Neutrons in Germanium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Germanium = Atomic mass of Germanium – Atomic number of Germanium = 73 – 32 = 41

Number of Electrons in Germanium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Germanium = Atomic number of Germanium = 32

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Arsenic protons neutrons electrons
Selenium protons neutrons electrons
Bromine protons neutrons electrons
Krypton protons neutrons electrons
Indium protons neutrons electrons