isotopes

Question 1

what does the number of protons tell you

Answer 1

The number of protons in a nucleus determines the identity of the element.
For example, any atom having 6 protons will be a “carbon” atom. If we were to add an extra proton to the nucleus, we would have an entirely different element.

Question 2

what happens if a neutron is added

Answer 2

On the other hand, if we add an extra NEUTRON to the nucleus we simply end up with the same element, just a little heavier, since the charge on the nucleus would be unchanged. Isotopes of a given element have the same atomic number, but a different atomic mass.

Question 3

what is an isotope

Answer 3

In other words, isotopes have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Question 4

how is an isotope identified

Answer 4

An isotope is identified by its mass number, the sum of the protons and neutrons

Question 5

what is the most common isotope

Answer 5

The most common isotope of carbon has a mass number of 12 and can be written as carbon-12. Two other isotopes are carbon-13 and carbon-14. Despite their different mass numbers, all three carbon isotopes react the same way chemically.

Question 6

how to represent an isotope

Answer 6

When representing an element, the large letter (usually X) is the elements symbol, the top letter (usually A) is the mass number which is the protons and neutrons weight, and the bottom letter (usually Z) is the atomic number which is the number of protons in the nucleus

Question 7

what is an element

Answer 7

Elements contain one type of atom, however atoms within an element may have a different mass (effected by the protons and neutrons)

Question 8

define mass number

Answer 8

total number of protons and neutrons

Question 9

define atomic number

Answer 9

number of protons

Question 10

what is special about the atomic number

Answer 10

The atomic number will always remain the same no matter how many neutrons there are

Question 11

will the atomic mass change

Answer 11

yes

Question 12

how to check if an atom is an isotope

Answer 12

If an atom has a different number of neutrons than protons and electrons, then it is an isotope

Question 13

can isotopes be unstable

Answer 13

yes, they may be unstable or radioactive like carbon-14

Question 14

carbon dating

Answer 14

Since carbon is found in all living organisms, and the decay rate is well documented, we can use carbon-14 as a way of dating a sample of tissue to figure out how old it is by comparing rations of carbon-12 and carbon-14. Carbon-14 dating is used in forensic studies and studying