How many neutrons does an atom of Xenon have in its nucleus?
To determine the number of neutrons in an atom of Xenon, you can follow these steps:
1. Identify the atomic number of Xenon, which is 54. The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
2. Locate the atomic mass of Xenon, which is usually indicated on the periodic table. It is typically given as a decimal number, such as 131.293.
3. Round the atomic mass to the nearest whole number. In this case, the atomic mass of Xenon is approximately 131.
4. Subtract the atomic number from the rounded atomic mass to find the number of neutrons. For Xenon, subtracting 54 from 131 gives us 77 neutrons.
Therefore, an atom of Xenon has 77 neutrons in its nucleus.