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

Gold has 79 protons, 118 neutrons and 79 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Gold

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 gold.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Gold

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 Gold (Au).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of gold is 79.

As the atomic number of gold is 79, it has a total of 79 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Gold is 79.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Gold

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

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

The atomic mass of gold is 196.96 u (which you can round it to 197). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 197), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 79).

So you will get 197 – 79 = 118.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Gold is 118.

#3 Number of Electrons in Gold

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

Here, the gold atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in gold 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 gold is 79.

Thus, the number of electrons in Gold is 79.

Summary

Number of Protons in Gold

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Gold = Atomic number of Gold = 79

Number of Neutrons in Gold

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Gold = Atomic mass of Gold – Atomic number of Gold = 197 – 79 = 118

Number of Electrons in Gold

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Gold = Atomic number of Gold = 79

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
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