The Importance of Isotopes

The video explains that while the number of protons in an element remains constant, the number of neutrons can vary, leading to different isotopes. Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. The example of carbon is used to illustrate this concept, showing that carbon can have either 6 or 8 neutrons.

What does it mean when we say the number of protons is constant for an element?

How can the number of neutrons in an atom of an element vary?

What are isotopes?

Explain the relationship between protons and neutrons in isotopes of the same element.

Provide an example of an isotope of carbon and describe its neutron count.