Aluminum has an atomic number of 13 and a mass number of 27. How many neutrons does a typical atom of aluminum contain?

• A. 27
• B. 40
• C. 14
• D. 13

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atomic number (Z) of aluminum, which is given as 13. This number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an aluminum atom.
2. Identify the mass number (A) of aluminum, which is given as 27. The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
3. Recall the relationship between mass number, atomic number, and neutrons: \(\text{Number of neutrons} = A - Z\).
4. Substitute the given values into the formula: \(\text{Number of neutrons} = 27 - 13\).
5. Calculate the difference to find the number of neutrons in a typical aluminum atom.