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

Samarium has 62 protons, 88 neutrons and 62 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Samarium

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 samarium.

#1 Number of Protons in Samarium

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 Samarium (Sm).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of samarium is 62.

As the atomic number of samarium is 62, it has a total of 62 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Samarium is 62.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Samarium

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

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

The atomic mass of samarium is 150.36 u (which you can round it to 150). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 150), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 62).

So you will get 150 – 62 = 88.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Samarium is 88.

#3 Number of Electrons in Samarium

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

Here, the samarium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in samarium 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 samarium is 62.

Thus, the number of electrons in Samarium is 62.

Summary

Number of Protons in Samarium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Samarium = Atomic number of Samarium = 62

Number of Neutrons in Samarium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Samarium = Atomic mass of Samarium – Atomic number of Samarium = 150 – 62 = 88

Number of Electrons in Samarium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Samarium = Atomic number of Samarium = 62

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Europium protons neutrons electrons
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Thorium protons neutrons electrons
Uranium protons neutrons electrons
Americium protons neutrons electrons