Isotopes

Front

What is an isotope?

Back

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different mass numbers.

Front

What do isotopes of the same element have in common?

Back

Isotopes of the same element have the same atomic number (number of protons) but different mass numbers due to varying numbers of neutrons.

Front

How do you calculate the number of neutrons in an isotope?

Back

To find the number of neutrons in an isotope, subtract the atomic number (number of protons) from the mass number.

Front

What is the mass number of an isotope?

Back

The mass number of an isotope is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

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

How many protons does carbon-12 have?

Back

Carbon-12 has 6 protons.

Front

How many neutrons does carbon-14 have?

Back

Carbon-14 has 8 neutrons.

Front

What is the difference between carbon-12 and carbon-14?

Back

Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons, while carbon-14 has 8 neutrons, making them isotopes of carbon with different mass numbers.

Front

What is the significance of isotopes in dating methods?

Back

Isotopes, such as carbon-14, are used in radiocarbon dating to determine the age of organic materials.

Front

Can isotopes have different chemical properties?

Back

Isotopes generally have the same chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons, but their physical properties may differ.