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What Atom Has 32 Neutrons?

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Last updated on 4 min read

Germanium-72 (not iodine) is the atom with 32 neutrons; it has 32 protons and 40 neutrons in its most common stable isotope.

What iodine has 32 neutrons?

No iodine isotope has exactly 32 neutrons.

Iodine always has 53 protons. Its stable isotopes have neutron counts of 74 (I-127), 78 (I-131), and 72 (I-125). Any claims about “Iodine-85” or “Iodine-88”? Those don’t exist in standard references—probably a typo or mix-up somewhere.

What elements has 32 neutrons?

Cobalt-59 and zinc-66 both have 32 neutrons, among others.

In stable isotopes, cobalt-59 (atomic number 27) has 27 protons and 32 neutrons. Zinc-66 (atomic number 30) actually has 36 neutrons, so it doesn’t fit. The earlier table must’ve mixed up atomic mass with neutron count—easy mistake to make.

What element has 32 protons and 32 neutrons?

Germanium is the element with 32 protons and 32 neutrons in its isotope Ge-64.

Germanium’s most common stable isotope is Ge-74 (32 protons + 42 neutrons), but Ge-64 (32 protons + 32 neutrons) is a real isotope used in nuclear physics research. It’s a metalloid in Group 14, sitting right between silicon and tin.

How many neutrons does 32 have?

An atom or isotope labeled “32” typically refers to sulfur-32, which has 16 neutrons.

Sulfur-32 (S-32) has an atomic number of 16 (16 protons), so its neutron count is 32 − 16 = 16. This isotope makes up about 95% of natural sulfur and is completely stable—no surprises there.

Is nickel a element?

Yes, nickel is a chemical element.

Nickel (Ni) is a transition metal with atomic number 28. It’s tough, bendable, and resists corrosion—great for stainless steel and rechargeable batteries. You’ll find it in everything from coins to jet engines.

What is number 32 on the periodic table?

Germanium (Ge) is element number 32 on the periodic table.

Germanium is a metalloid with symbol Ge, atomic number 32, and atomic mass of about 72.63 u. It’s key in fiber optics and infrared tech—without it, modern communications wouldn’t be the same.

What is the symbol of uranium?

The symbol for uranium is U.

Uranium is a radioactive element with atomic number 92. Its most common isotope, U-238, has 146 neutrons and powers nuclear reactors. Without it, we wouldn’t have nuclear energy—or nuclear weapons, for that matter.

What is the number of neutrons in iodine?

The most abundant stable isotope of iodine, I-127, has 74 neutrons.

I-125, a radioisotope used in medical imaging, has 72 neutrons (53 protons + 72 = 125). I-131, which treats thyroid cancer, has 78 neutrons. Iodine’s isotopes are all over the place—literally.

Is germanium harmful to humans?

Germanium is not classified as an essential nutrient and has low acute toxicity, but high or prolonged intake can cause kidney damage.

The U.S. FDA and ATSDR warn that organogermanium supplements have been linked to kidney failure in some cases. As of 2026, the U.S. hasn’t approved germanium as a dietary supplement—too risky, not enough benefits.

What has 32 protons and 33 electrons?

Germanium in a +1 ionized state (Ge+) has 32 protons and 33 electrons.

Neutral germanium has 32 electrons. Remove one (oxidation), and you get Ge+, which is rare but shows up in plasma physics and mass spectrometry. Most of the time, though, germanium keeps its electrons close.

How did germanium get its name?

Germanium was named after “Germania,” the Latin word for Germany, by its discoverer Clemens Winkler in 1886.

Winkler found the element in the mineral argyrodite and named it in honor of his homeland. Later, germanium’s semiconductor properties became the backbone of early transistors—without it, modern electronics wouldn’t exist.

What is sulfur 32 used for?

Sulfur-32 is primarily used as a target in the production of phosphorus-32 (P-32), a therapeutic radioisotope.

P-32 treats bone metastases in cancer patients and acts as a tracer in biochemical research. S-32 also helps scientists study how stars forge elements—specifically, how silicon burning creates sulfur in supernovae.

Why is sulfur 32 the most abundant?

Sulfur-32 is the most abundant isotope because it is efficiently produced in massive stars via the alpha process during silicon burning.

In supernova explosions, carbon-12 fuses with helium-4 nuclei, building up to S-32. This process dominates in Type II supernovae, making S-32 about 95% of natural sulfur. The universe really likes this isotope—it’s everywhere.

How many electrons does S 32 have?

A neutral sulfur-32 atom has 16 electrons.

Sulfur has atomic number 16, so it has 16 protons and 16 neutrons in S-32. If you ionize it to S-32²⁻, it gains two electrons (now 18), but in most chemical reactions, it stays neutral with 16 electrons. Simple as that.

Edited and fact-checked by the FixAnswer editorial team.
Joel Walsh

Known as a jack of all trades and master of none, though he prefers the term "Intellectual Tourist." He spent years dabbling in everything from 18th-century botany to the physics of toast, ensuring he has just enough knowledge to be dangerous at a dinner party but not enough to actually fix your computer.