Molybdenum Protons Neutrons Electrons (How to Find them?)

Molybdenum has 42 protons, 54 neutrons and 42 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Molybdenum

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 molybdenum.

#1 Number of Protons in Molybdenum

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 Molybdenum (Mo).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of molybdenum is 42.

As the atomic number of molybdenum is 42, it has a total of 42 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Molybdenum is 42.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Molybdenum

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

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

The atomic mass of molybdenum is 95.95 u (which you can round it to 96). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 96), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 42).

So you will get 96 – 42 = 54.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Molybdenum is 54.

#3 Number of Electrons in Molybdenum

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

Here, the molybdenum atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in molybdenum 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 molybdenum is 42.

Thus, the number of electrons in Molybdenum is 42.

Summary

Number of Protons in Molybdenum

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Molybdenum = Atomic number of Molybdenum = 42

Number of Neutrons in Molybdenum

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Molybdenum = Atomic mass of Molybdenum – Atomic number of Molybdenum = 96 – 42 = 54

Number of Electrons in Molybdenum

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Molybdenum = Atomic number of Molybdenum = 42

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
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