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Atomic Number Calculator — Protons, Neutrons & Electrons from Any Element

Atomic Number Calculator — Protons, Neutrons & Electrons from Any Element
Chemistry Tool

Atomic Number Calculator

Find protons, neutrons, and electrons for any element or isotope. Calculate electron configuration, identify ions from charge states, and explore the periodic table — with step-by-step working for every result.

Protons, Neutrons & Electrons Calculator
Leave blank to use standard atomic mass
Positive = cation, Negative = anion, 0 = neutral
C — Carbon Z=6
H — Hydrogen Z=1
O — Oxygen Z=8
Na⁺ — Sodium ion
Cl⁻ — Chloride ion
Fe³⁺ — Iron(III)
Ca²⁺ — Calcium ion
Ne — Neon Z=10
Cu — Copper Z=29
Kr — Krypton Z=36
Error
C Z = 6

Carbon

Z = 6 nonmetal Period 2 Group 14

Atomic Mass: 12.011 u

126C
🔴
Protons
6
= Atomic Number Z
Neutrons
6
= A − Z
🔵
Electrons
6
= Z (neutral)
⚛️
Mass Number
12
= p⁺ + n⁰
Atomic Structure Details
Nuclear notation¹²₆C
Nucleus composition6 protons + 6 neutrons = 12 nucleons
Ion statusNeutral atom
Ion notation
Standard atomic mass12.011 u
Period / GroupPeriod 2, Group 14
Categorynonmetal

Electron Configuration

1s² 2s² 2p²
Step-by-Step Working
Isotope Calculator

Find protons and neutrons for any isotope. Enter an element + either mass number or neutron count.

Fill either Mass Number OR Neutron Count — not both.
Error

Carbon-14

Isotope of Carbon (Z = 6)

6
Protons
8
Neutrons
14
Mass No.
Radioactive — Half-life: 5,730 years | Use: Radiocarbon dating
Periodic Table — Click Any Element

Click any element to load it into the main calculator. First 36 elements shown.

Nonmetal Alkali Metal Alkaline Earth Transition Metal Noble Gas Metalloid Metal Halogen
Complete Element Reference Table — First 36 Elements

All proton, neutron, and electron counts for neutral atoms using the most abundant isotope. Click any row to load into the calculator.

ZSymbolNameAtomic Mass ProtonsNeutrons*Electrons PeriodGroupCategory
1HHydrogen1.00810111nonmetal
2HeHelium4.003222118noble gas
3LiLithium6.94134321alkali metal
4BeBeryllium9.01245422alkaline earth
5BBoron10.811565213metalloid
6CCarbon12.011666214nonmetal
7NNitrogen14.007777215nonmetal
8OOxygen15.999888216nonmetal
9FFluorine18.9989109217halogen
10NeNeon20.180101010218noble gas
11NaSodium22.99011121131alkali metal
12MgMagnesium24.30512121232alkaline earth
13AlAluminum26.982131413313metal
14SiSilicon28.086141414314metalloid
15PPhosphorus30.974151615315nonmetal
16SSulfur32.060161616316nonmetal
17ClChlorine35.453171817317halogen
18ArArgon39.948182218318noble gas
19KPotassium39.09819201941alkali metal
20CaCalcium40.07820202042alkaline earth
21ScScandium44.95621242143transition metal
22TiTitanium47.86722262244transition metal
23VVanadium50.94223282345transition metal
24CrChromium51.99624282446transition metal
25MnManganese54.93825302547transition metal
26FeIron55.84526302648transition metal
27CoCobalt58.93327322749transition metal
28NiNickel58.693283028410transition metal
29CuCopper63.546293429411transition metal
30ZnZinc65.380303530412transition metal
31GaGallium69.723313931413metal
32GeGermanium72.630324132414metalloid
33AsArsenic74.922334233415metalloid
34SeSelenium78.960344534416nonmetal
35BrBromine79.904354535417halogen
36KrKrypton83.798364836418noble gas

* Neutrons shown for most abundant natural isotope (rounded atomic mass)

Atomic Number Calculator — Find Protons, Neutrons & Electrons

This atomic number calculator finds the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons for any element or isotope instantly. Enter an element name, symbol, or atomic number Z — optionally add a mass number for isotopes or an ionic charge for ions — and the protons neutrons and electrons calculator returns all four subatomic particle counts with complete step-by-step working, electron configuration, and isotope notation.

Quick formula: Protons = Z (atomic number) · Neutrons = A − Z (mass number minus atomic number) · Electrons = Z − charge (for ions; charge = 0 for neutral atoms)

Atomic Number, Mass Number, and Atomic Structure

Every atom consists of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by a cloud of electrons. The atomic number (Z) is the defining characteristic of each element — it counts the number of protons in the nucleus and cannot change without changing the element itself.

Atomic Number (Z) = Number of Protons Z uniquely identifies every chemical element in the periodic table

Mass Number (A)

The mass number (A) is the total count of nucleons — protons plus neutrons — in the nucleus. Because electrons are so light (about 1/1836 the mass of a proton), they contribute negligible mass to the atom.

A = Protons + Neutrons   →   Neutrons = A − Z Mass number = total nucleons in the nucleus

Nuclear Notation ᴬᴢX

Scientists write isotopes using nuclear notation: the mass number A as a superscript and the atomic number Z as a subscript, both to the left of the element symbol. For example, Carbon-12 is written ¹²₆C, meaning A=12, Z=6, symbol=C.

Electrons in Neutral Atoms and Ions

In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons (Z). When an atom gains or loses electrons, it becomes an ion:

  • Cation (positive charge, +): lost electrons → electrons = Z − charge
  • Anion (negative charge, −): gained electrons → electrons = Z − charge (charge is negative, so subtracting a negative adds electrons)
Electrons = Z − ionic charge Neutral atom: charge=0, so electrons=Z.   Na⁺: 11−1=10.   Cl⁻: 17−(−1)=18.

How to Find Protons, Neutrons, and Electrons — Step-by-Step

Follow this four-step method to find protons, neutrons, and electrons for any element or ion. This is the core method used by our protons neutrons and electrons calculator.

  1. Step 1 — Find the atomic number Z: Look up the element on the periodic table. The atomic number Z equals the number of protons. Carbon: Z=6, so protons=6.
  2. Step 2 — Find or determine the mass number A: If given an isotope (e.g. Carbon-14), A is in the name. Otherwise, round the standard atomic mass to the nearest whole number (Carbon: 12.011 → A=12).
  3. Step 3 — Calculate neutrons: Neutrons = A − Z. Carbon-12: 12 − 6 = 6 neutrons. Carbon-14: 14 − 6 = 8 neutrons.
  4. Step 4 — Calculate electrons (accounting for charge): Electrons = Z − ionic charge. Neutral atom: same as Z. For Fe³⁺: electrons = 26 − 3 = 23.

Example 1 — Carbon neutral atom (C, Z=6, A=12, charge=0)

  1. Protons = Z = 6
  2. Neutrons = A − Z = 12 − 6 = 6
  3. Electrons = Z − charge = 6 − 0 = 6
  4. Notation: ¹²₆C | Config: 1s² 2s² 2p²

Example 2 — Chloride ion (Cl⁻, Z=17, A=35, charge=−1)

  1. Protons = Z = 17
  2. Neutrons = 35 − 17 = 18
  3. Electrons = 17 − (−1) = 18 (gained 1 electron → anion)
  4. Notation: ³⁵₁₇Cl⁻ | Has same electron count as Argon (isoelectronic)

Example 3 — Iron(III) ion (Fe³⁺, Z=26, A=56, charge=+3)

  1. Protons = Z = 26
  2. Neutrons = 56 − 26 = 30
  3. Electrons = 26 − 3 = 23 (lost 3 electrons → cation)
  4. Config neutral Fe: [Ar] 3d⁶ 4s² → Fe³⁺ config: [Ar] 3d⁵

Example 4 — Sodium ion (Na⁺, Z=11, A=23, charge=+1)

  1. Protons = 11
  2. Neutrons = 23 − 11 = 12
  3. Electrons = 11 − 1 = 10
  4. Na⁺ is isoelectronic with Neon (both have 10 electrons)

Isotopes — Same Protons, Different Neutrons

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons (same atomic number Z) but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different mass numbers A. Isotopes of an element have identical chemical behavior but different nuclear stability and mass.

The classic example is carbon: Carbon-12 (Z=6, A=12, 6 neutrons) makes up 98.93% of natural carbon and is the basis of the atomic mass scale. Carbon-14 (Z=6, A=14, 8 neutrons) is radioactive with a half-life of 5,730 years — the basis of radiocarbon dating.

Key rule for isotopes: neutrons = A − Z. Change A, keep Z — same element, different isotope. Carbon always has 6 protons. C-12 has 6 neutrons. C-14 has 8 neutrons.

IsotopeZ (Protons)A (Mass No.)NeutronsStable?Natural Abundance / Half-life
Carbon-12 (C-12)612698.93%
Carbon-14 (C-14)6148☢️Half-life: 5,730 years
Hydrogen-1 (H-1)11099.98%
Hydrogen-2 (D)1210.0115% — Deuterium
Hydrogen-3 (T)132☢️Half-life: 12.32 years — Tritium
Iron-56 (Fe-56)26563091.75%
Uranium-23592235143☢️Half-life: 703.8 million years
Uranium-23892238146☢️Half-life: 4.47 billion years

Ions — How Charge Affects Electron Count

An ion is an atom that has gained or lost one or more electrons, giving it a net electrical charge. The number of protons and neutrons does not change when an ion forms — only the electron count changes.

Cations — Positive Ions (lost electrons)

When an atom loses electrons it becomes positively charged. The more electrons lost, the higher the positive charge. Metals commonly form cations.

  • Na⁺ (Sodium): Z=11, lost 1 electron → 10 electrons (same as Ne)
  • Ca²⁺ (Calcium): Z=20, lost 2 electrons → 18 electrons (same as Ar)
  • Fe³⁺ (Iron III): Z=26, lost 3 electrons → 23 electrons
  • Al³⁺ (Aluminum): Z=13, lost 3 electrons → 10 electrons

Anions — Negative Ions (gained electrons)

When an atom gains electrons it becomes negatively charged. Nonmetals commonly form anions.

  • Cl⁻ (Chloride): Z=17, gained 1 electron → 18 electrons (same as Ar)
  • O²⁻ (Oxide): Z=8, gained 2 electrons → 10 electrons (same as Ne)
  • F⁻ (Fluoride): Z=9, gained 1 electron → 10 electrons (same as Ne)
  • S²⁻ (Sulfide): Z=16, gained 2 electrons → 18 electrons (same as Ar)

Isoelectronic species have the same number of electrons but different atomic numbers. Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, F⁻, O²⁻, and Ne all have 10 electrons and are isoelectronic with neon.

Electron Configuration from Atomic Number

The electron configuration describes how electrons are distributed among atomic orbitals. Electrons fill orbitals in order of increasing energy, following the Aufbau principle. The filling order is: 1s → 2s → 2p → 3s → 3p → 4s → 3d → 4p.

Each subshell holds a maximum number of electrons: s = 2, p = 6, d = 10, f = 14.

Element (Z)SymbolElectron ConfigurationNotes
Hydrogen (1)H1s¹
Helium (2)He1s²First noble gas
Lithium (3)Li1s² 2s¹
Carbon (6)C1s² 2s² 2p²
Neon (10)Ne1s² 2s² 2p⁶Full 2p shell
Sodium (11)Na1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹
Argon (18)Ar1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶Full 3p shell
Potassium (19)K1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s¹4s fills before 3d
Calcium (20)Ca1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s²
Chromium (24)Cr1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ 4s¹⚠️ Exception — half-filled 3d
Copper (29)Cu1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s¹⚠️ Exception — full 3d
Zinc (30)Zn1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s²
Krypton (36)Kr1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶Full 4p shell

Exceptions — Chromium and Copper: Chromium (Z=24) has [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹ instead of [Ar] 3d⁴ 4s² because a half-filled d subshell (3d⁵) provides extra stability. Copper (Z=29) has [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹ instead of [Ar] 3d⁹ 4s² because a completely filled d subshell (3d¹⁰) is especially stable.

Worked Examples — 8 Problems

Problem 1: Find protons, neutrons, electrons for Oxygen-16 (neutral)

  1. Z = 8 → Protons = 8
  2. A = 16, Neutrons = 16 − 8 = 8
  3. Charge = 0, Electrons = 8 − 0 = 8
  4. Config: 1s² 2s² 2p⁴

Problem 2: Find protons, neutrons, electrons for Calcium ion Ca²⁺ (A=40)

  1. Z = 20 → Protons = 20
  2. Neutrons = 40 − 20 = 20
  3. Electrons = 20 − 2 = 18 (isoelectronic with Ar)

Problem 3: Element has 15 protons — what is it?

  1. Z = 15 → Element is Phosphorus (P)
  2. Standard mass = 30.974, so A = 31
  3. Neutrons = 31 − 15 = 16, Electrons = 15 (neutral)
  4. Config: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p³

Problem 4: Find neutrons in Uranium-238

  1. Uranium: Z = 92
  2. Neutrons = A − Z = 238 − 92 = 146 neutrons

Problem 5: An atom has 17 protons and 18 neutrons — identify it and find electrons if charge = −1

  1. Z = 17 → Chlorine (Cl)
  2. Mass number = 17 + 18 = 35 → this is Cl-35
  3. Electrons = 17 − (−1) = 18 → Cl⁻ (chloride ion)

Problem 6: Write the electron configuration for Potassium (Z=19)

  1. Fill in order: 1s(2), 2s(2), 2p(6), 3s(2), 3p(6) = 18 electrons used
  2. Remaining: 19 − 18 = 1 electron → goes into 4s
  3. Config: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s¹

Problem 7: Find protons, neutrons, electrons for Iron-56 as Fe²⁺

  1. Z = 26 → Protons = 26
  2. Neutrons = 56 − 26 = 30
  3. Electrons = 26 − 2 = 24

Problem 8: An ion has 10 electrons and 8 protons — what is the charge?

  1. Electrons = Z − charge → 10 = 8 − charge → charge = 8 − 10 = −2
  2. Z = 8 → Oxygen, ion is O²⁻ (oxide ion)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the atomic number?
The atomic number (Z) is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. It uniquely identifies a chemical element — every atom of carbon has Z=6, every oxygen atom has Z=8. The atomic number determines the element's position on the periodic table, its chemical properties, and the number of electrons in a neutral atom. Our atomic number calculator uses Z as the primary input to find all subatomic particle counts.
How do you find the number of neutrons?
Neutrons = Mass Number (A) − Atomic Number (Z). For Carbon-12: neutrons = 12 − 6 = 6. If only the standard atomic mass is given, round it to the nearest whole number to get A. For example, Iron has atomic mass 55.845 → round to 56 → neutrons = 56 − 26 = 30. Use this protons neutrons and electrons calculator to do this automatically.
How do you find electrons in an ion?
Electrons = Atomic Number (Z) − Ionic Charge. For neutral atoms: charge = 0, so electrons = protons. For cations (positive): Na⁺ has 11 − 1 = 10 electrons. For anions (negative): Cl⁻ has 17 − (−1) = 18 electrons. Fe³⁺ has 26 − 3 = 23 electrons.
What is the difference between atomic number and mass number?
The atomic number (Z) counts only protons and identifies the element — it never changes for a given element. The mass number (A) counts all nucleons (protons + neutrons) and varies between isotopes. Carbon always has Z=6, but Carbon-12 has A=12 (6 neutrons) while Carbon-14 has A=14 (8 neutrons). Our periodic table calculator shows both values for every element.
What are isotopes?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element (same Z, same proton count) with different numbers of neutrons (different mass numbers A). They have identical chemical properties but different nuclear stability. Carbon-12 and Carbon-14 are both carbon isotopes. Stable isotopes do not decay; radioactive isotopes decay over time with a characteristic half-life.
How do you write electron configuration?
Fill subshells in the Aufbau order (1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p…) until all electrons are placed. Each subshell can hold: s=2, p=6, d=10 electrons. For Sodium (Z=11): 1s²(2) 2s²(4) 2p⁶(10) 3s¹(11) = 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹. Notable exceptions: Chromium (Z=24) and Copper (Z=29) deviate from predicted filling order due to extra stability of half-filled and fully-filled d subshells.
How do you use the atomic number calculator?
Enter an element name (e.g. "Carbon"), symbol (e.g. "C"), or atomic number (e.g. "6") into the element calculator. Optionally add a mass number A for isotope calculations, or an ionic charge for ion calculations. Click "Find Protons, Neutrons & Electrons" and the atom calculator instantly shows all results with step-by-step working. You can also click any element on the mini periodic table to auto-fill the fields.

Related Calculators

Exact Mass Calculator — isotope masses
Grams to Moles Calculator
Stoichiometry Calculator
Significant Figures Calculator
Quick Formulas
Protons = Z (atomic number)Defines the element
Neutrons = A − ZMass number minus atomic number
Electrons = Z − chargeNeutral: charge=0, so e=Z
A = protons + neutronsTotal nucleons
Cation: e = Z − |charge|Lost electrons → positive
Anion: e = Z + |charge|Gained electrons → negative
Config: 1s 2s 2p 3s 3p 4s 3dAufbau filling order
Common Elements
H — Hydrogen Z=1
C — Carbon Z=6
O — Oxygen Z=8
N — Nitrogen Z=7
Na⁺ — Sodium ion
Cl⁻ — Chloride ion
Fe³⁺ — Iron III
Ca²⁺ — Calcium
Cu — Copper Z=29
Ar — Argon Z=18

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