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

Lutetium has 71 protons, 104 neutrons and 71 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Lutetium

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 lutetium.

#1 Number of Protons in Lutetium

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 Lutetium (Lu).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of lutetium is 71.

As the atomic number of lutetium is 71, it has a total of 71 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Lutetium is 71.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Lutetium

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

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

The atomic mass of lutetium is 174.97 u (which you can round it to 175). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 175), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 71).

So you will get 175 – 71 = 104.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Lutetium is 104.

#3 Number of Electrons in Lutetium

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

Here, the lutetium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in lutetium 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 lutetium is 71.

Thus, the number of electrons in Lutetium is 71.

Summary

Number of Protons in Lutetium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Lutetium = Atomic number of Lutetium = 71

Number of Neutrons in Lutetium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Lutetium = Atomic mass of Lutetium – Atomic number of Lutetium = 175 – 71 = 104

Number of Electrons in Lutetium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Lutetium = Atomic number of Lutetium = 71

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Hafnium protons neutrons electrons
Tantalum protons neutrons electrons
Tungsten protons neutrons electrons
Rhenium protons neutrons electrons
Osmium protons neutrons electrons