What is the structure of an aluminum atom?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the internal arrangement of an aluminum atom, which includes the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons, as well as how these particles are organized within the atom, such as electron shells and orbitals.
Answer
An aluminum atom has 13 protons, 14 neutrons, and 13 electrons with the electron configuration [Ne]3s2 3p1.
The final answer is: The structure of an aluminum atom consists of 13 protons and 14 neutrons in the nucleus, surrounded by 13 electrons arranged in the electron configuration [Ne]3s2 3p1.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is: The structure of an aluminum atom consists of 13 protons and 14 neutrons in the nucleus, surrounded by 13 electrons arranged in the electron configuration [Ne]3s2 3p1.
More Information
Aluminum (Al) has an atomic number of 13, meaning it has 13 protons. It typically also has 14 neutrons, leading to a common isotopic mass of 27 atomic mass units. The electron configuration of Aluminum is noted for its simplicity beyond the noble gas configuration of Neon.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the number of electrons or protons. The atomic number always equals the number of protons and electrons in a neutral atom.
Sources
- Aluminum, atomic structure - Stock Image - sciencephoto.com
- Aluminium - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- Electron Configuration for Aluminium (Al) - TerpConnect - terpconnect.umd.edu
