Multiple Choice
Which of these refers to atoms with the same atomic number but different atomic masses?
2. Atoms & Elements
Isotopes
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How many neutrons does a typical carbon-12 atom have?
A
12
B
4
C
6
D
8
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the structure of a carbon-12 atom: Carbon-12 is an isotope of carbon where the number 12 represents the atomic mass number, which is the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
Identify the atomic number of carbon: The atomic number of carbon is 6, which indicates the number of protons in the nucleus of a carbon atom.
Use the formula to find the number of neutrons: The number of neutrons can be calculated using the formula: \( \text{Number of neutrons} = \text{Mass number} - \text{Atomic number} \).
Substitute the values into the formula: For carbon-12, the mass number is 12 and the atomic number is 6. Substitute these values into the formula: \( \text{Number of neutrons} = 12 - 6 \).
Calculate the result: Perform the subtraction to find the number of neutrons in a carbon-12 atom.
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