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

Sulfur has 16 protons, 16 neutrons and 16 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Sulfur

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 sulfur.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Sulfur

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 Sulfur (S).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of sulfur is 16.

As the atomic number of sulfur is 16, it has a total of 16 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Sulfur is 16.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Sulfur

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

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

The atomic mass of sulfur is 32.06 u (which you can round it to 32). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 32), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 16).

So you will get 32 – 16 = 16.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Sulfur is 16.

#3 Number of Electrons in Sulfur

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

Here, the sulfur atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in sulfur 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 sulfur is 16.

Thus, the number of electrons in Sulfur is 16.

Summary

Number of Protons in Sulfur

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Sulfur = Atomic number of Sulfur = 16

Number of Neutrons in Sulfur

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Sulfur = Atomic mass of Sulfur – Atomic number of Sulfur = 32 – 16 = 16

Number of Electrons in Sulfur

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Sulfur = Atomic number of Sulfur = 16

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Chlorine protons neutrons electrons
Argon protons neutrons electrons
Germanium protons neutrons electrons
Arsenic protons neutrons electrons
Selenium protons neutrons electrons