Question

Find out the number of neutrons, protons, and electrons of 17Cl^37 respectively.

(a) 20, 20, 17

(b) 17, 17, 20

(c) 20, 17, 17

(d) 17, 17, 17

This question was posed to me in final exam.

This interesting question is from Atomic Models topic in chapter Structure of Atom of Chemistry – Class 11

Answer 1

Right answer is (c) 20, 17, 17

To explain I would say: An atom is written in the symbol ZXA. By comparing it to 17Cl^37, we get a number of protons as 17 and mass number as 37. Mass number – proton number = neutron number. Number of neutrons is 37 – 17 = 20. No. of protons = No. of electrons = 17.