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

Selenium has 34 protons, 45 neutrons and 34 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Selenium

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 selenium.

#1 Number of Protons in Selenium

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 Selenium (Se).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of selenium is 34.

As the atomic number of selenium is 34, it has a total of 34 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Selenium is 34.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Selenium

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

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

The atomic mass of selenium is 78.971 u (which you can round it to 79). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 79), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 34).

So you will get 79 – 34 = 45.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Selenium is 45.

#3 Number of Electrons in Selenium

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

Here, the selenium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in selenium 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 selenium is 34.

Thus, the number of electrons in Selenium is 34.

Summary

Number of Protons in Selenium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Selenium = Atomic number of Selenium = 34

Number of Neutrons in Selenium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Selenium = Atomic mass of Selenium – Atomic number of Selenium = 79 – 34 = 45

Number of Electrons in Selenium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Selenium = Atomic number of Selenium = 34

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Bromine protons neutrons electrons
Krypton protons neutrons electrons
Indium protons neutrons electrons
Tin protons neutrons electrons
Iodine protons neutrons electrons