How do you calculate the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom?

The number of protons in an atom is the same as its atomic number, which is found on its corresponding atomic symbol in the periodic table of elements. And as long as this atom has a neutral charge, than the number of electrons will be the same. If the atom does have a charge, like say, 2-, then subtract 2 from the number of protons to get the number of electrons.
For the number of neutrons, you have to memorize the isotopes available sometimes. But usually something like carbon 14 will have a total of (in this case) 14 total protons/neutrons. So subtract this number by the number of protons(6), and you have 8 neutrons.
Hope this helps!

nguyenruss nguyenruss · Answer 2 · 2014-10-14T20:49:35-04:00

First you need a periodic table of elements.

Then you look for your element. Let's go for Krypton as an example.

Krypton has an atomic number which is on the left upper corner and an atomic weight which is at the bottom of the element.

To find protons it is the atomic number. The atomic number for Krypton is 36.
To find electrons it is the same number as protons. 36.
To find neutrons you use the atomic weight which is 83.80 and you round it to the nearest whole number which will be 84 and you subtract it from the protons. The answer is 48.

Protons = 36 (atomic number)
Electrons = 36 (atomic number)
Neutrons = 48 (atomic weight round to nearest whole number - atomic number)