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

Zirconium has 40 protons, 51 neutrons and 40 electrons.

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

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

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

Let’s dive right into it!

Finding the Protons, Neutrons and Electrons in Zirconium

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 zirconium.

#1 Number of Protons in Zirconium

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 Zirconium (Zr).

So from the above periodic table, you can see that the atomic number of zirconium is 40.

As the atomic number of zirconium is 40, it has a total of 40 protons in its nucleus.

Thus, the number of protons in Zirconium is 40.

#2 Number of Neutrons in Zirconium

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

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

The atomic mass of zirconium is 91.224 u (which you can round it to 91). ^[2]

So from this atomic mass (i.e 91), you have to subtract its atomic number (i.e 40).

So you will get 91 – 40 = 51.

Thus, the number of neutrons in Zirconium is 51.

#3 Number of Electrons in Zirconium

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

Here, the zirconium atom is a neutral atom.

So the number of electrons in zirconium 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 zirconium is 40.

Thus, the number of electrons in Zirconium is 40.

Summary

Number of Protons in Zirconium

• The number of protons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Protons in Zirconium = Atomic number of Zirconium = 40

Number of Neutrons in Zirconium

• The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from its atomic mass.
• Number of Neutrons in Zirconium = Atomic mass of Zirconium – Atomic number of Zirconium = 91 – 40 = 51

Number of Electrons in Zirconium

• For a neutral atom, the number of electrons can be found by knowing the atomic number of that atom.
• Number of Electrons in Zirconium = Atomic number of Zirconium = 40

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

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