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Question

Question: How many protons are found in an atom of platinum?...

How many protons are found in an atom of platinum?

Explanation

Solution

For calculating the number of protons in an atom we have to see about the atomic number of that atom, because Atomic number (Z)\left( Z \right) of an atom is always equal to the number of protons existing inside the nucleus or number of electrons present outer the nucleus in the orbitals.

Complete step by step answer:
Platinum is a compound element with the appearance PtPt and atomic number 19578Pt{^{78}_{195}}Pt. It is a thick, moldable, bendable, profoundly lifeless, valuable, silverish-white progress metal. Its name is gotten from the Spanish expression platino, signifying "minimal silver".
Platinum is situated in the Groups 810 (VIIIb)8-10{\text{ }}\left( {VIIIb} \right), Periods   5\;5 and 66, of the periodic table and denoted by the symbol as 19578Pt{^{78}_{195}}Pt.
-Upper quantity in 19578Pt{^{78}_{195}}Pt describes the atomic number (Z)\left( Z \right) of the platinum atom.
-Lower quantity in 19578Pt{^{78}_{195}}Pt describes the atomic mass (A)\left( A \right) of the platinum atom.
As we see that relative between the atomic number and number of protons present inside the nucleus is denoted as follow:
Atomic Number (Z)\left( Z \right) = No. of protons = No. of electrons
-From the denotation of platinum it is clear that the atomic number of platinum is   78\;78, so the number of protons in the platinum atom is also   78\;78 . Hence, in the nucleus of one atom of platinum   78\;78 protons are found.

Additional information:
Number of protons present inside the nucleus in an atom is also calculated by knowing the atomic mass (A)\left( A \right) and number of neutrons as follow atomic mass (A)\left( A \right) and number of neutrons as follow:
Atomic mass (A)\left( A \right) = No. of protons +No. of neutrons.

Note:
Here some of you may get disorganized on conniving the number of protons if atomic mass (A)\left( A \right) and atomic number (Z)\left( Z \right) both are given, then in this situation always keep in mind that atomic number is equal to the number of protons.