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

Zinc has 30 protons, 35 neutrons and 30 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Zinc

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 zinc.

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

#1 Number of Protons in Zinc

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 Zinc (Zn).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of zinc is 30.

As the atomic number of zinc is 30, it has a total of 30 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Zinc is 30.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Zinc

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

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

The atomic mass of zinc is 65.38 u (which you can round it to 65). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 65), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 30).

So you will get 65 – 30 = 35.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Zinc is 35.

#3 Number of Electrons in Zinc

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

Here, the zinc atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in zinc 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 zinc is 30.

Thus, the number of electrons in Zinc is 30.

Summary

Number of Protons in Zinc

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Zinc = Atomic number of Zinc = 30

Number of Neutrons in Zinc

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Zinc = Atomic mass of Zinc – Atomic number of Zinc = 65 – 30 = 35

Number of Electrons in Zinc

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Zinc = Atomic number of Zinc = 30

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

Check out related topics for more practice;
Zirconium protons neutrons electrons
Niobium protons neutrons electrons
Molybdenum protons neutrons electrons
Ruthenium protons neutrons electrons
Silver protons neutrons electrons