An atom of Mg^25 contains 13 neutrons.
Understanding Mg^25 and Neutron Count
To determine the number of neutrons in any atom, you need two fundamental pieces of information: its mass number and its atomic number.
- Mass Number (A): This represents the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. For Mg^25, the '25' indicates its mass number.
- Atomic Number (Z): This uniquely identifies an element and represents the number of protons in the nucleus. For Magnesium (Mg), its atomic number is 12. This number is constant for all isotopes of magnesium.
The number of neutrons can be calculated using the following simple formula:
Number of Neutrons = Mass Number (A) - Atomic Number (Z)
Let's apply this to Magnesium-25:
- Element: Magnesium (Mg)
- Mass Number (A): 25 (as indicated by Mg^25)
- Atomic Number (Z): 12 (for Magnesium, as found on the periodic table)
Calculation for Mg^25
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Element | Magnesium (Mg) |
| Atomic Number (Z) | 12 |
| Mass Number (A) | 25 |
Using the formula:
Number of Neutrons = 25 (Mass Number) - 12 (Atomic Number)
Number of Neutrons = 13
Therefore, an atom of magnesium-25 (Mg^25) has 13 neutrons. This specific isotope of magnesium is often used in scientific research due to its distinct mass.
What are Isotopes?
Mg^25 is an isotope of magnesium. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons (same atomic number) but different numbers of neutrons (and thus different mass numbers). Magnesium naturally occurs as a mixture of several isotopes, with Mg^24 being the most abundant.
Understanding isotopes is crucial in various fields, including:
- Nuclear physics: Studying the stability and properties of different atomic nuclei.
- Medicine: Using radioactive isotopes for imaging (e.g., PET scans) and treatment (e.g., radiation therapy).
- Geology: Dating ancient rocks and artifacts using radioactive decay.
