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

Platinum has 78 protons, 117 neutrons and 78 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Platinum

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 platinum.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Platinum

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 Platinum (Pt).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of platinum is 78.

As the atomic number of platinum is 78, it has a total of 78 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Platinum is 78.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Platinum

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

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

The atomic mass of platinum is 195.08 u (which you can round it to 195). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 195), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 78).

So you will get 195 – 78 = 117.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Platinum is 117.

#3 Number of Electrons in Platinum

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

Here, the platinum atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in platinum 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 platinum is 78.

Thus, the number of electrons in Platinum is 78.

Summary

Number of Protons in Platinum

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Platinum = Atomic number of Platinum = 78

Number of Neutrons in Platinum

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Platinum = Atomic mass of Platinum – Atomic number of Platinum = 195 – 78 = 117

Number of Electrons in Platinum

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Platinum = Atomic number of Platinum = 78

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Gold protons neutrons electrons
Mercury protons neutrons electrons
Cerium protons neutrons electrons
Samarium protons neutrons electrons
Europium protons neutrons electrons