Atom Calculator
Calculate atomic properties and understand atomic structure
An atom is the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element. It consists of three main subatomic particles:
- Protons: Positively charged particles in the nucleus
- Neutrons: Neutral particles in the nucleus
- Electrons: Negatively charged particles orbiting the nucleus
- Enter the atomic number (Z) of the element
- Enter the mass number (A) of the isotope
- Enter the net charge (if the atom is an ion, 0 for neutral atoms)
- Click Calculate to see the atomic properties
The calculator will determine the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons based on these inputs.
Atomic Number (Z)
The number of protons in an atom's nucleus, which determines the element's identity.
Mass Number (A)
The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.
Net Charge
The difference between the number of protons and electrons, indicating if the atom is an ion.
What is the difference between atomic number and mass number?
The atomic number (Z) is the number of protons, while the mass number (A) is the total number of protons and neutrons.
How do I determine the number of neutrons?
Subtract the atomic number (Z) from the mass number (A): Neutrons = A - Z
What makes an atom positively or negatively charged?
An atom becomes an ion when it has more or fewer electrons than protons. Fewer electrons create a positive ion (cation), while more electrons create a negative ion (anion).