Question

Using the periodic table and your knowledge of atomic structure. Would Carbon-14 have more, less or the same number of neutrons as a typical carbon atom? How do you know?
A) The same number of neutrons. All carbon atoms have atomic number 6.
B) The periodic table cannot give you the information needed to answer this question.
C) It has less neutrons. Its mass number is smaller than the one on the periodic table.
D) It has more neutrons. Its mass number is larger than the atomic mass number for carbon.

Answer 1

D) It has more neutrons. Its mass number is larger than the atomic mass number for carbon.

Answer 2

Answer: Option (D) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

Carbon-14 is an isotope of carbon-12. Atomic mass means the sum of total number of protons and neutrons.

Carbon-14 means the atomic mass is 14, that is, number of protons will be 6 and number of neutrons will be 8.

Thus, we can conclude that carbon-14 has more neutrons. Its mass number is larger than the atomic mass number for carbon.