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

Hydrogen has 1 proton, 0 neutron and 1 electron.

But how will you find the number of proton, neutron and electron in Hydrogen (H)?

Well, it is very easy to find the proton, neutron and electron of hydrogen atom.

Here I have given a very simple method for finding the proton, neutron and electron of hydrogen atom.

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Hydrogen

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 proton, neutron and electron in hydrogen.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Hydrogen

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 Hydrogen (H).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of hydrogen is 1.

As the atomic number of hydrogen is 1, it has a total of 1 proton in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of proton in Hydrogen is 1.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Hydrogen

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

The number of neutron in hydrogen can be obtained by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.

The atomic mass of hydrogen is 1.008 u (which you can round it to 1). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 1), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 1).

So you will get 1 – 1 = 0.

Thus, the number of neutron in Hydrogen is 0.

#3 Number of Electrons in Hydrogen

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

Here, the hydrogen atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electron in hydrogen is equal to its number of proton (which is also equal to its atomic number).

In the beginning, we have found that the number of proton in hydrogen is 1.

Thus, the number of electron in Hydrogen is 1.

Summary

Number of Protons in Hydrogen

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Proton in Hydrogen = Atomic number of Hydrogen = 1

Number of Neutrons in Hydrogen

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutron in Hydrogen = Atomic mass of Hydrogen – Atomic number of Hydrogen = 1 – 1 = 0

Number of Electrons in Hydrogen

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electron in Hydrogen = Atomic number of Hydrogen = 1

I hope you have understood the simple method for finding the proton, neutron and electron of hydrogen atom.

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