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Q:
i have a project to do that involves making a model of a magnesium atom. but i can’t seem to find out how many neutrons and protons are in magnesium nor if it is an isotope.
- Taylor 11
Silver Palms Elementary, pembroke pines Fl,USA
A:
Magnesium is listed in the periodic table as having the following properties:
Symbol: Mg
Atomic number: 12
Atomic weight: 24.3050
The atomic number is the same as the number of protons. The atomic
weight is the number of protons plus the average number of neutrons
found in magnesium nuclei in nature (with a small correction mostly due
to the fact that the binding energy of the nucleus is included in its
mass via E=mc^2). Most naturally occurring Magnesium atoms (about 80%
of them) have 12 neutrons, while 10% have 13 neutrons and 10% have 14
neutrons. The different numbers of neutrons indicate the different
isotopes of Magnesium. The chemical properties of Magnesium depend
(nearly) entirely on the electrons, and therefore depend on how many
protons there are, and not how many neutrons; add extra neutrons and
it's still "Magnesium", but it may weigh more. A handbook of chemistry
and physics lists all isotopes with between 8 and 16 neutrons. All
except the three naturally occurring isotopes are radioactive and decay
to other nuclei.
James (and Tom)
(published on 10/22/2007)
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