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

Uranium has 92 protons, 146 neutrons and 92 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Uranium

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 uranium.

#1 Number of Protons in Uranium

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 Uranium (U).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of uranium is 92.

As the atomic number of uranium is 92, it has a total of 92 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Uranium is 92.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Uranium

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

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

The atomic mass of uranium is 238.03 u (which you can round it to 238). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 238), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 92).

So you will get 238 – 92 = 146.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Uranium is 146.

#3 Number of Electrons in Uranium

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

Here, the uranium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in uranium 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 uranium is 92.

Thus, the number of electrons in Uranium is 92.

Summary

Number of Protons in Uranium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Uranium = Atomic number of Uranium = 92

Number of Neutrons in Uranium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Uranium = Atomic mass of Uranium – Atomic number of Uranium = 238 – 92 = 146

Number of Electrons in Uranium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Uranium = Atomic number of Uranium = 92

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

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