How do we find the number of neutrons in the #""^31P# isotope?

Answer 1

Simply subtract #15# from #31#:

#31-15="number of neutrons in the phosphorus isotope"=16#

For the #""_15^31P# isotope, #"Z, the atomic number"#, the subscript, is superfluous. The element is phosphorus, and #Z#, #"the atomic number"# #=# #15# BY DEFINITION.

The #"mass number"#, the superscript, is the number of massive particles, protons and neutrons, contained in the nucleus of the isotope, and this is given by the superscript. This is something you really should get your head round. Hydrogen has 3 common isotopes, #""^1H, "protium", ""^2H, "deuterium",# and #"tritium",""^3H. # Can you tell me the number of neutrons each nucleus contains?

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Answer 2

Olivia Anton

To find the number of neutrons in the ^31P isotope, subtract the atomic number (which represents the number of protons) from the mass number (which represents the total number of protons and neutrons). So, for phosphorus-31 (^31P), which has an atomic number of 15, subtract 15 from the mass number, which is 31. This gives us 16 neutrons.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.