Understanding the Basics
* Atomic Number: The atomic number of an element defines the number of protons in its nucleus. Bromine's atomic number is 35.
* Mass Number: The mass number represents the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.
* Neutrons: The number of neutrons can be found by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number: 87 - 35 = 52 neutrons.
* Electrons: In a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons.
Solution
Since bromine has an atomic number of 35, a neutral bromine atom will have 35 electrons.
Important Note: The mass number (87) only influences the number of neutrons. The number of electrons in a neutral atom is always determined by the atomic number.
