11
Chat with our AI personalities
A magnesium atom typically has 12 neutrons. Magnesium has an atomic number of 12, indicating it has 12 protons which is equal to its number of electrons in a neutral atom. The number of neutrons can be calculated by subtracting the atomic number from the atomic mass of magnesium, which is approximately 24.305 amu.
Sodium does have an atomic number of 11, and if the isotope's atomic mass is 23, the atom would have 11 protons (the atomic number) and 12 neutrons (the atomic mass minus the atomic number). The atom would have 11 electrons, and when ionized it would lose one and take on a charge of +1.
To find the atomic number of an element, you need to subtract the number of neutrons from the isotope's mass number. In this case, if the isotope has 12 neutrons, the atomic number would need to be determined in conjunction with the mass number.
Mg has 12 protons since it is element number 12 on the periodic table. To calculate the number of neutrons, subtract the atomic number (12 protons) from the atomic mass (26), which gives 14 neutrons in this case.
Subtract the atomic number from the mass number. Example Carbon-12 an isotope with a mas number of 12. Carbon has an atomic number of 6 therefore carbon-12 has 6 neutrons.