Question

Scientists use carbon dating to determine the age of fossils. 14C is a rare isotope of carbon that has a half life of 5730 years and decays into 14N. By measuring the amount of 14C remaining in a fossil, scientists can estimate when the organism died out to about 60,000 years. The atomic number of C is 6, and of N is 7. 14C and 14N have the same: Group of answer choices

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is - mass number.

Explanation:

The atomic number the number of electrons or protons present in a neutral atom.

Atomic number = Number of electrons = Number of protons

Whereas, the mass number the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons present in an atom.

Mass number = Number of protons + Number of neutrons

For C-14 and N-14:

C-14 isotope:

Atomic number = number of proton = number of electron = 6.

Mass number = 14

Number of neutrons = 14 - 6 = 8

In N-14 isotope:

Atomic number = number of proton = number of electron = 7

Mass number = 14

Number of neutrons = 14 - 7 = 7

Thus, these two isobars have same mass number.