Question

What element can be represented by 45 no, 34 p+, 34 e.?

Answer 1

Answer:

If there are

34

protons

, the element is unquestionably

selenium

.

Explanation:

The number of protons, the number of massive, positively charged nuclear particles, is

Z

,

the atomic number

.

Z

unequivocally defines the identity of the element. For

Z

=

34

we have selenium.

We can be even more specific than this, because the question reported the number of neutrons, the number of neutrally charged, nuclear particles, i.e., the

79

S

e

isotope, where the

79

superscript is the isotopic mass:

neutrons + protons

. And thus this isotope possesses

79

−

34

=

45

neutrons

The problem specified

34 electrons

, so we know that this is a neutral element. Why?

I haven't looked this up yet, but I think that this is a fission product, i.e. an unusual selenium isotope.

Answer 2

The answer is Selenium.