Here's how to find the number of neutrons for a specific isotope:
1. Identify the isotope: You need to know which isotope of samarium you're interested in. For example, Samarium-152 (written as ¹⁵²Sm) is a common isotope.
2. Find the atomic mass: The atomic mass of an isotope is the number in the upper left corner of the isotope's symbol. For ¹⁵²Sm, the atomic mass is 152.
3. Find the atomic number: The atomic number of samarium is 62. This number represents the number of protons in the atom. You can find this on the periodic table.
4. Calculate the number of neutrons: Subtract the atomic number from the atomic mass: 152 - 62 = 90 neutrons.
Therefore, Samarium-152 has 90 neutrons.
To find the number of neutrons for other isotopes of samarium, simply repeat these steps with the corresponding atomic mass.
