1.An atom of silicon has a mass number of 28 and an atomic number of 14. How can you determine how many protons and how many neutrons are in this atom?
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The atomic number of an atom is always equal to the number of protons it has; each element has a different atomic number, this is what distinguishes them, among other things. To find the number of neutrons, you subtract the atomic number from the mass number. So, in this case, you would have an atom of silicon with 14 protons, 14 electrons (assuming it is a neutral atom), and 14 neutrons.