Multiple Choice
How are Carbon-13 and Nitrogen-15 respectively different from the more abundant isotopes Carbon-12 and Nitrogen-14? Carbon-13 and Nitrogen-15 _______________:
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2. Chemistry
Isotopes
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
In which of the following will isotopes of an element always differ?
A
Atomic number
B
Number of electrons
C
Number of protons
D
Atomic mass
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of isotopes: Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Identify the atomic number: The atomic number of an element is defined by the number of protons in its nucleus. Since isotopes have the same number of protons, they have the same atomic number.
Consider the number of electrons: In a neutral atom, the number of electrons equals the number of protons. Since isotopes have the same number of protons, they also have the same number of electrons.
Examine the number of protons: As mentioned, isotopes of an element have the same number of protons, which defines the element itself.
Determine the atomic mass: Isotopes differ in the number of neutrons, which affects the atomic mass. Therefore, isotopes of an element will always differ in atomic mass.
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