An atom has 26 electrons and its atomic weight is 56. The number of neutrons in the nucleus of the atom will be

Options

A. 26
B. 30
C. 36
D. 56

Answer

To find the number of neutrons in the nucleus of the atom, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the number of protons
Since the atom has 26 electrons, and in a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons, we can conclude that the number of protons (Z) is also 26.

**Hint:** Remember that in a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons.

### Step 2: Use the atomic mass formula
The atomic mass (A) of an atom is given by the sum of the number of protons (Z) and the number of neutrons (N). This can be expressed as:
\[ A = Z + N \]

### Step 3: Substitute the known values
From the question, we know:
- Atomic mass (A) = 56
- Number of protons (Z) = 26

We can substitute these values into the formula:
\[ 56 = 26 + N \]

**Hint:** Make sure to rearrange the equation to isolate N.

### Step 4: Solve for the number of neutrons
Now, we can solve for N:
\[ N = 56 - 26 \]
\[ N = 30 \]

### Conclusion
Thus, the number of neutrons in the nucleus of the atom is 30.

**Final Answer:** The number of neutrons is 30.

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