What is the charge of the nucleus of a phosphorus atom, and how do you know?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 13, 2016

The phosphorus nucleus contains #15# #"unit positive charges"#. Of course the neutral atom is also associated with 15 electrons, so the net electronic charge of the atom is ZERO.

Explanation:

How do I know this? Well, I have access to a Periodic Table, for one, and it says unequivocally that #Z=15# for the phosphorus atom. #Z# is the number of protons, massive, positively-charged nuclear particles; #Z# is more commonly called the #"atomic number"#, which UNEQUIVOCALLY defines the identity of the element.

#Z=1#, hydrogen; #Z=2#, helium;......................#Z=15#, phosphorus; ...............#Z=26#, iron; etc.

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