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

Thorium has 90 protons, 142 neutrons and 90 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Thorium

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 thorium.

#1 Number of Protons in Thorium

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 Thorium (Th).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of thorium is 90.

As the atomic number of thorium is 90, it has a total of 90 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Thorium is 90.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Thorium

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

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

The atomic mass of thorium is 232.04 u (which you can round it to 232). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 232), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 90).

So you will get 232 – 90 = 142.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Thorium is 142.

#3 Number of Electrons in Thorium

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

Here, the thorium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in thorium 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 thorium is 90.

Thus, the number of electrons in Thorium is 90.

Summary

Number of Protons in Thorium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Thorium = Atomic number of Thorium = 90

Number of Neutrons in Thorium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Thorium = Atomic mass of Thorium – Atomic number of Thorium = 232 – 90 = 142

Number of Electrons in Thorium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Thorium = Atomic number of Thorium = 90

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Uranium protons neutrons electrons
Americium protons neutrons electrons
Californium protons neutrons electrons
Hydrogen protons neutrons electrons
Helium protons neutrons electrons