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

Helium has 2 protons, 2 neutrons and 2 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Helium

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 helium.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Helium

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 Helium (He).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of helium is 2.

As the atomic number of helium is 2, it has a total of 2 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Helium is 2.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Helium

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

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

The atomic mass of helium is 4.002 u (which you can round it to 4). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 4), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 2).

So you will get 4 – 2 = 2.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Helium is 2.

#3 Number of Electrons in Helium

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

Here, the helium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in helium 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 helium is 2.

Thus, the number of electrons in Helium is 2.

Summary

Number of Protons in Helium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Helium = Atomic number of Helium = 2

Number of Neutrons in Helium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Helium = Atomic mass of Helium – Atomic number of Helium = 4 – 2 = 2

Number of Electrons in Helium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Helium = Atomic number of Helium = 2

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Lithium protons neutrons electrons
Beryllium protons neutrons electrons
Sodium protons neutrons electrons
Magnesium protons neutrons electrons
Potassium protons neutrons electrons