Question

Carbon has six protons and nitrogen has seven protons. Which has the greatest number of neutrons-carbon-13, carbon-14, or nitrogen-14?

Short answer

Carbon-14 has the greatest number of neutrons with 8.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Isotopes

Carbon-13 and Carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon, meaning they have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Nitrogen-14 is an isotope of nitrogen.

Counting Carbon's Protons and Neutrons

Carbon has 6 protons. For Carbon-13, the mass number is 13, so the number of neutrons is given by the formula: neutrons = mass number - protons. Thus, Carbon-13 has 13 - 6 = 7 neutrons.

Counting Neutrons in Carbon-14

Carbon-14 has a mass number of 14 and 6 protons. Therefore, its number of neutrons is 14 - 6 = 8.

Counting Neutrons in Nitrogen-14

Nitrogen has 7 protons. For Nitrogen-14, the mass number is 14, so the number of neutrons is 14 - 7 = 7.

Comparing Number of Neutrons

Carbon-13 has 7 neutrons, Carbon-14 has 8 neutrons, and Nitrogen-14 has 7 neutrons. Therefore, Carbon-14 has the greatest number of neutrons.

Key concepts

Understanding Neutrons

Neutrons are subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom. They carry no electric charge, which means they are neutral. Neutrons play a key role in the stability of an atom. Without the right number of neutrons, an atom can become unstable and subject to radioactive decay.

To determine the number of neutrons in an atom, you subtract the number of protons from the mass number. For example:

• Carbon-13 has 13 as its mass number and 6 protons, resulting in 7 neutrons.
• Carbon-14 has 14 as its mass number and 6 protons, resulting in 8 neutrons.
• Nitrogen-14 has 14 as its mass number and 7 protons, resulting in 7 neutrons.

Neutrons, alongside protons, contribute to the bulk of an atom's mass, as electrons are relatively light.

All About Protons

Protons are positively charged particles located at the heart of the atom in its nucleus. Each element is defined by its number of protons, commonly known as the atomic number. The atomic number is crucial because it gives the element its identity. For instance:

• Carbon has 6 protons, which makes its atomic number 6.
• Nitrogen has 7 protons, which gives it an atomic number of 7.

These protons are bound together with neutrons in the nucleus, contributing significantly to the atom's overall mass.

While protons themselves don’t define isotopes, changes in neutron number while the proton count stays the same result in different isotopes of the same element.

Importance of Mass Number

The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons within an atom’s nucleus. It serves as an indicator of the total number of heavy particles in the atom. This is different from the atomic number, which only counts the protons.

• Carbon-13 has a mass number of 13, which includes 6 protons and 7 neutrons.
• Carbon-14 has a mass number of 14, including 6 protons and 8 neutrons.
• Nitrogen-14 has a mass number of 14, with 7 protons and 7 neutrons.

The mass number is crucial for identifying isotopes, as isotopes of the same element share the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons.

Understanding the mass number allows scientists to calculate and compare the number of neutrons, aiding in determining atomic properties and behaviors.