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

Tantalum has 73 protons, 108 neutrons and 73 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Tantalum

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 tantalum.

#1 Number of Protons in Tantalum

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 Tantalum (Ta).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of tantalum is 73.

As the atomic number of tantalum is 73, it has a total of 73 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Tantalum is 73.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Tantalum

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

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

The atomic mass of tantalum is 180.95 u (which you can round it to 181). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 181), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 73).

So you will get 181 – 73 = 108.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Tantalum is 108.

#3 Number of Electrons in Tantalum

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

Here, the tantalum atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in tantalum 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 tantalum is 73.

Thus, the number of electrons in Tantalum is 73.

Summary

Number of Protons in Tantalum

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Tantalum = Atomic number of Tantalum = 73

Number of Neutrons in Tantalum

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Tantalum = Atomic mass of Tantalum – Atomic number of Tantalum = 181 – 73 = 108

Number of Electrons in Tantalum

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Tantalum = Atomic number of Tantalum = 73

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Tungsten protons neutrons electrons
Rhenium protons neutrons electrons
Osmium protons neutrons electrons
Platinum protons neutrons electrons
Gold protons neutrons electrons