Based on the element box for zinc shown to the right, answer the following questions.
1. What is the atomic number of zinc?
The atomic number is found at the lower lefthand corner of each element box on the Periodic Table. The atomic number of zinc is 30.
2. What is the nuclear charge of an atom of zinc?
Since the atomic number is 30, the nuclear charge must be +30. Please note: if you do not put the positive sign, this question would be marked incorrectly. Whenever you are dealing with charges in chemistry, you must indicate either the + or - sign in your work.
3. How many protons are found in an atom of zinc?
The atomic number indicates the number of protons found within an atom of any element found in nature; therefore, all atoms of zinc must contain 30 protons. If another atom contains a different number of protons, it cannot be zinc.
Important Conclusion: The number of protons found in the nucleus identifies which element is present.
4. Where are the protons found in an atom of zinc?
Due to the gold-foil experiment, we know that the positively charged particles are contained within the nucleus.
5. How many electrons are found in an atom of zinc?
Since the overall atom is electrically neutral, the atom of zinc must contain the same number of electrons (negative charged particles) as protons (positively charged particles). Therefore, all atoms of zinc must contain 30 electrons due to the 30 protons in the nucleus.
6. Where are the electrons found in an atom of zinc?
The electrons are found surrounding the nucleus. We will now turn our attention to trying to explain the location of these electrons in more definite terms.
