Isotopes

Front

What is an isotope?

Back

An isotope is a variant of a chemical element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Front

How do you calculate the mass number of an isotope?

Back

The mass number is calculated by adding the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.

Front

What is the mass number of Carbon-14?

Back

The mass number of Carbon-14 is 14, which is the sum of its 6 protons and 8 neutrons.

Front

If an element has 6 protons and 8 neutrons, what is its identity?

Back

It is Carbon, specifically the isotope Carbon-14.

Front

What distinguishes isotopes of the same element?

Back

Isotopes of the same element differ in the number of neutrons they contain.

Front

Can two isotopes have the same atomic number?

Back

Yes, isotopes of the same element have the same atomic number but different mass numbers.

Front

What is the atomic number of an element?

Back

The atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element's identity.

Front

If two isotopes have the same mass number but different atomic numbers, what does this indicate?

Back

This indicates that they are different elements, not isotopes.

Front

What is the relationship between isotopes and chemical properties?

Back

Isotopes of an element generally have the same chemical properties because they have the same number of protons and electrons.

Front

What is the significance of isotopes in dating archaeological finds?

Back

Isotopes like Carbon-14 are used in radiocarbon dating to determine the age of organic materials.