I am doing an atomic structure where it describes an atom/ion and you have to work out what it is. It says has 126 neutrons and 82 atomic number. so I say its lead as lead has 82 atomic number but comes out to 125 neutrons(as 207-82) instead of 126, bismuth comes to 126 neutrons but has an atomic number of 83.
Who told you that lead can only have 125 neutrons? Each element have several different isotopes (different versions of the element with different numbers of neutrons). Lead has natural isotopes between 204 and 210 mass numbers. Something with 82 protons is always Lead. If it has 126 neutrons, it's still lead, it's just an isotope of Lead known as Lead-208
Who told you that lead can only have 125 neutrons? Each element have several different isotopes (different versions of the element with different numbers of neutrons). Lead has natural isotopes between 204 and 210 mass numbers. Something with 82 protons is always Lead. If it has 126 neutrons, it's still lead, it's just an isotope of Lead known as Lead-208