To determine the number of neutrons in an isotope of selenium-83, follow these steps:
1. Identify the atomic number (Z) of Selenium:
The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom. For Selenium, the atomic number is 34. This means every atom of Selenium has 34 protons.
2. Identify the mass number (A) of Selenium-83:
The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. For the isotope Selenium-83, the mass number is given as 83.
3. Calculate the number of neutrons (N):
The number of neutrons in an atom can be found by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number. The formula to find the number of neutrons is:
[tex]\[
N = A - Z
\][/tex]
Substituting the known values:
[tex]\[
N = 83 - 34
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
N = 49
\][/tex]
Therefore, the number of neutrons in the isotope Selenium-83 is 49.
