How many neutrons are in calcium?

1 Answer
anor277
May 24, 2017

"Usually 20 neutrons............"

Explanation:

Why "usually.........?"

Every calcium nucleus contains 20 positively charged, nucular particles, "20 protons". This is what defines the nuclide as a calcium nucleus, i.e. Z=20. However, the nucleus can contain varying numbers of neutrons. Most calcium nuclei (approx. 97%) contain 20 neutrons.........to give the ""^40Ca isotope. There are much smaller percentages of the ""^42Ca and the ""^44Ca isotopes. The weighted average of all the isotopic masses gives the atomic mass reported on the Periodic Table, i.e. 40.1*g*mol^-1. Clear?

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