answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

It would have 17 electrons. All chlorine atoms would have 17 electrons because they are electrically neutral, which means that number of protons (of charge +1) would be equal to number of electrons (of charge -1). This is true for all isotopes of chlorine.

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

AnswerBot

4mo ago

Most chlorine atoms contain 18 neutrons because chlorine has an atomic number of 17, which means it normally has 17 protons in its nucleus. To be stable, it typically needs to have a similar number of neutrons to protons, leading to an average of 18 neutrons in most chlorine atoms.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

All Chlorine atoms have 17 protons.

However, ISOTOPES exist, which are atoms with varying numbers of neutrons.
(A Chlorine atom with 17 neutrons would not be considered an isotope, because it has the same number of neutrons as protons)


It is impossible to tell how many neutrons a particular atom has, (unless you have some really high tech equipment to work with) so for the sake of chemistry, we sample a bunch of atoms of a given element (Chlorine, in this case) and take the average number of neutrons. We add that decimal to the number of protons that the element ALWAYS has, and end up with the average atomic number.


On the Periodic Table, the average atomic number is listed underneath the Cl symbol as 35.45. This means that the average Cl atom has 17 protons and just over 18 neutrons (17 + 18 = 35).


SO, the best answer to your question is "An isotope of Chlorine has 17 protons and 18 neutrons."


**I would review the definitions for atomic number and mass number. Also look up how isotopes are written (with numbers to the left of the element's symbol).

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

No.

17 is the total number of electrons.

When you refer to valence electrons, you only look at the last shell of the atom.

In chlorine, the electron configuration is 2.8.7, thus chlorine has 7 valence electrons.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

The number of protons is an atom's defining characteristic. Those 17 protons are what gives chlorine the properties of chlorine. With 18 protons it would be not chlorine, but would be argon.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

Its atomic number is 17 and its mass number is 35 (= 17 +18).

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

17, to balance the charge of a neutral atom.

This answer is:
User Avatar

mass number = number of protons + number of neutrons

so,

mass number = 17 + 18 = 35

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

Because chlorine-35 -17 =18 35.45=35

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

an isotope

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why is this that most chlorine atoms contain 18 neutrons?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Why does this indicate that most chlorine atoms contain 18 neurrons?

The statement is based on the most common isotope of chlorine, which has 18 neutrons out of a total of 35 protons and neutrons. This isotope, chlorine-35, is the most abundant form of chlorine found in nature, leading to the conclusion that most chlorine atoms contain 18 neutrons.


Can an atom exist without neutrons?

Yes. Most hydrogen atoms do not contain neutrons. All other atoms do.


What does it indicate that most chlorine atoms contain 18 neutrons?

Chlorine typically has 18 neutrons in its nucleus, giving it an atomic mass of 35.5. This isotope, chlorine-35, is the most common form of chlorine found in nature. The number of neutrons in an atom can affect its stability and chemical properties.


Most atoms contain one or more?

electrons, protons, and neutrons. These subatomic particles make up the structure of an atom.


What don't most hydrogen atoms contain?

Most hydrogen atoms don't contain any neutrons. Deuterium atoms are hydrogen atoms with one neutron each, and tritium atoms are hydrogen atoms with two neutrons each, but most hydrogen atoms are protium atoms, with no neutrons at all. All other atoms in the universe except protium contain at least one neutron each.


What 3 elements make up chlorine?

Chlorine atoms consist of 17 protons, 17 electrons, and typically 18 neutrons in its most common isotope, chlorine-35.


Chlorine has an average atomic mass of 35.45 atomic mass unit. the to naturally occording isotopes are Chlorine-35 and Chlorine-37 Why does this indicate that most chlorine atoms contain 18 neutrons?

Since the average atomic mass of chlorine is closer to 35 than 37, it indicates that there are more chlorine-35 isotopes present in nature. Since the atomic number of chlorine is 17, which represents the number of protons in the nucleus, it follows that most chlorine atoms contain 18 neutrons (35-17 = 18) to give an average atomic mass close to 35.45 u.


Are all particles alike in hydrogen?

No. Not all hydrogen atoms (particles) are the same. Most do not contain any neutrons, but there are some that do contain 1 or even 2 neutrons. So, they are different.


How many protons electrons and neutrons are in boron?

All boron atoms contain 5 electrons and 5 protons. Atoms of the most abundant naturally occurring isotope of boron contain 6 neutrons each, and atoms of the only other naturally occurring isotope of boron contain 5 neutrons each.


How many protons neutrons electrons does a chlorine molecule?

Chlorine has an atomic number of 17. Thus, neutral chlorine will have 17 protons and 17 electrons. Chlorine's most common isotope is 35Cl, meaning it has 35 - 17 = 18 neutrons. *****************************2nd Opinion************* Since the question was about a chlorine molecule, shouldn't the answer be about Cl2? 34 p and 36 n


What is the number of neutrons for chlorine?

19


Most matter of earth is made up of these small particles?

Everything in the universe is made up of quarks, electrons, gluons, and a few others that we know of. Actuallly the answer is atoms. Most matter of earth is made up of these small particles are elctrons, protons, and neutrons. In other words, an atom.