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Multiple Choice
The atomic number of nitrogen is 7. Nitrogen-15 has a greater mass number than nitrogen-14 because the atomic nucleus of nitrogen-15 contains ________.
A
7 neutrons.
B
8 neutrons.
C
8 protons.
D
15 protons.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that the atomic number of an element represents the number of protons in its nucleus. For nitrogen, this is 7 protons.
Recognize that the mass number of an isotope is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
Identify that nitrogen-15 and nitrogen-14 are isotopes of nitrogen, meaning they have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Calculate the number of neutrons in nitrogen-15 by subtracting the atomic number (7 protons) from the mass number (15). This gives you the number of neutrons in nitrogen-15.
Compare the number of neutrons in nitrogen-15 to nitrogen-14. Nitrogen-14 has 7 neutrons (14 - 7 = 7), so nitrogen-15 must have one more neutron than nitrogen-14, resulting in 8 neutrons.