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

Silicon has 14 protons, 14 neutrons and 14 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Silicon

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 silicon.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Silicon

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 Silicon (Si).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of silicon is 14.

As the atomic number of silicon is 14, it has a total of 14 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Silicon is 14.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Silicon

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

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

The atomic mass of silicon is 28.085 u (which you can round it to 28). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 28), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 14).

So you will get 28 – 14 = 14.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Silicon is 14.

#3 Number of Electrons in Silicon

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

Here, the silicon atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in silicon 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 silicon is 14.

Thus, the number of electrons in Silicon is 14.

Summary

Number of Protons in Silicon

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Silicon = Atomic number of Silicon = 14

Number of Neutrons in Silicon

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Silicon = Atomic mass of Silicon – Atomic number of Silicon = 28 – 14 = 14

Number of Electrons in Silicon

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Silicon = Atomic number of Silicon = 14

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

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