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QuestionChemistry

Beryllium (Be) has an atomic number of 4. How many protons, neutrons, and electrons would a beryllium atom have? (Beryllium has an atomic mass of 9 amu.) A. 4 protons, 4 neutrons, 4 electrons B. 4 protons, 5 neutrons, 4 electrons C. 4 protons, 4 neutrons, 5 electrons D. 5 protons, 4 neutrons, 4 electrons
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Answer

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Step 1:
Let's solve this step by step:

Step 2:
: Determine the number of protons

- Therefore, a beryllium atom has $$4$$ protons
- The atomic number of an element tells us the number of protons in its nucleus - For beryllium, the atomic number is 4

Step 3:
: Calculate the number of neutrons

- $$9 - 4 = 5$$ neutrons
- Atomic mass is the total number of protons and neutrons - Number of neutrons = Atomic mass - Number of protons

Step 4:
: Determine the number of electrons

- Since beryllium has $$4$$ protons, it will have $$4$$ electrons
- In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons

Step 5:
: Verify the details

- Electrons: $$4
- Neutrons: 5

Final Answer

B. 4 protons, 5 neutrons, 4 electrons