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

Ytterbium has 70 protons, 103 neutrons and 70 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Ytterbium

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 ytterbium.

#1 Number of Protons in Ytterbium

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 Ytterbium (Yb).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of ytterbium is 70.

As the atomic number of ytterbium is 70, it has a total of 70 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Ytterbium is 70.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Ytterbium

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

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

The atomic mass of ytterbium is 173.05 u (which you can round it to 173). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 173), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 70).

So you will get 173 – 70 = 103.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Ytterbium is 103.

#3 Number of Electrons in Ytterbium

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

Here, the ytterbium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in ytterbium 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 ytterbium is 70.

Thus, the number of electrons in Ytterbium is 70.

Summary

Number of Protons in Ytterbium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Ytterbium = Atomic number of Ytterbium = 70

Number of Neutrons in Ytterbium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Ytterbium = Atomic mass of Ytterbium – Atomic number of Ytterbium = 173 – 70 = 103

Number of Electrons in Ytterbium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Ytterbium = Atomic number of Ytterbium = 70

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

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