A neutral atom of the isotope phosphorus-32 contains 15 protons, 17 neutrons, and 15 electrons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Phosphorus (P) has an atomic number of 15, which means it has 15 protons. The isotope phosphorus-32 refers to the mass number, which is the sum of protons and neutrons. Therefore, with 15 protons, it must have 17 neutrons (32 - 15 = 17) to make up the mass number of 32. A neutral atom has equal numbers of protons and electrons, so it also has 15 electrons.

A Neutral Atom of the Isotope Phosphorus-32 Contains 15 Protons