Cobalt has a mass number of 59 and an atomic number of 27. A student wants to create a model of a cobalt atom. Which statement about the model is correct?
1. The model should show 27 protons and 28 neutrons.
2. The model should show 32 protons and 59 neutrons
3. The model should show 59 protons and 27 neutrons
4. The model should show 27 protons and 32 neutrons
4. The model should show 27 protons and 32 neutrons
To determine the correct model of a cobalt atom, we need to understand the basic composition of an atom.
The atomic number of an element represents the number of protons in its nucleus. In this case, cobalt has an atomic number of 27, which means it has 27 protons.
The mass number of an element represents the total number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. In this case, cobalt has a mass number of 59.
By subtracting the atomic number from the mass number, we can determine the number of neutrons in the atom. In the case of cobalt, subtracting 27 from 59 gives us 32 neutrons.
Therefore, the correct statement about the model of a cobalt atom is:
4. The model should show 27 protons and 32 neutrons.
To determine which statement about the model of a cobalt atom is correct, we need to understand the basic structure of an atom. An atom consists of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
The atomic number of an atom represents the number of protons it contains. In this case, cobalt has an atomic number of 27, which means it has 27 protons.
The mass number of an atom represents the sum of protons and neutrons. In this case, cobalt has a mass number of 59.
To determine the number of neutrons in an atom, you can subtract the atomic number (number of protons) from the mass number. So, the number of neutrons in cobalt can be calculated as 59 (mass number) - 27 (atomic number) = 32 neutrons.
Now that we have the correct information, let's evaluate the statements:
1. The model should show 27 protons and 28 neutrons.
This statement is incorrect because it doesn't reflect the correct number of neutrons (32) based on the given atomic and mass numbers.
2. The model should show 32 protons and 59 neutrons.
This statement is incorrect because it mistakenly swaps the numbers of protons and neutrons.
3. The model should show 59 protons and 27 neutrons.
This statement is incorrect because it swaps the numbers of protons and neutrons.
4. The model should show 27 protons and 32 neutrons.
This statement is correct because it accurately represents the atomic and mass numbers of cobalt, with 27 protons and 32 neutrons.
Therefore, the correct statement about the model of a cobalt atom is option 4: The model should show 27 protons and 32 neutrons.