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An atom of beryllium has 4 protons and a mass number of 9. How many neutrons does it contain?

A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 9


Sagot :

To determine the number of neutrons in an atom, you use the relationship between the mass number, the number of protons, and the number of neutrons.

1. Understand the given information:
- The atom of beryllium has 4 protons.
- The mass number of the atom is 9.

2. Recall the formula:
- The mass number is the sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. This can be expressed as:
[tex]\[ \text{Mass Number} = \text{Number of Protons} + \text{Number of Neutrons} \][/tex]

3. Set up the equation:
[tex]\[ 9 = 4 + \text{Number of Neutrons} \][/tex]

4. Solve for the number of neutrons:
- Subtract the number of protons from the mass number to find the number of neutrons:
[tex]\[ \text{Number of Neutrons} = 9 - 4 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Number of Neutrons} = 5 \][/tex]

5. Thus, the atom of beryllium contains:
- 5 neutrons.

The correct answer is:
05