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Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements about the nucleus of a carbon-12 atom is true?
A
It contains 12 protons and 12 neutrons held together by strong nuclear forces.
B
It contains 12 protons and 6 neutrons held together by strong nuclear forces.
C
It contains 6 protons and 12 neutrons held together by strong nuclear forces.
D
It contains 6 protons and 6 neutrons held together by strong nuclear forces.
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of atomic number and mass number: The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in its nucleus, which defines the element. The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
Identify the atomic number of carbon: Carbon has an atomic number of 6, which means it has 6 protons in its nucleus.
Determine the mass number of carbon-12: The isotope carbon-12 has a mass number of 12, indicating the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
Calculate the number of neutrons: Subtract the atomic number from the mass number to find the number of neutrons. For carbon-12, this is 12 (mass number) - 6 (atomic number) = 6 neutrons.
Conclude the composition of the carbon-12 nucleus: The nucleus of a carbon-12 atom contains 6 protons and 6 neutrons, held together by strong nuclear forces.