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

Scandium has 21 protons, 24 neutrons and 21 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Scandium

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 scandium.

#1 Number of Protons in Scandium

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 Scandium (Sc).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of scandium is 21.

As the atomic number of scandium is 21, it has a total of 21 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Scandium is 21.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Scandium

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

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

The atomic mass of scandium is 44.956 u (which you can round it to 45). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 45), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 21).

So you will get 45 – 21 = 24.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Scandium is 24.

#3 Number of Electrons in Scandium

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

Here, the scandium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in scandium 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 scandium is 21.

Thus, the number of electrons in Scandium is 21.

Summary

Number of Protons in Scandium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Scandium = Atomic number of Scandium = 21

Number of Neutrons in Scandium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Scandium = Atomic mass of Scandium – Atomic number of Scandium = 45 – 21 = 24

Number of Electrons in Scandium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Scandium = Atomic number of Scandium = 21

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Titanium protons neutrons electrons
Vanadium protons neutrons electrons
Chromium protons neutrons electrons
Manganese protons neutrons electrons
Iron protons neutrons electrons