Answer :
Final answer:
Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons, with the atomic number representing the number of protons. The mass number is calculated by adding protons and neutrons, and isotopes are variations of elements with differing neutron counts. For example, carbon-14 has 6 protons and 8 neutrons, making it an isotope of carbon.
Explanation:
Understanding Atomic Structure
Atoms are composed of three main subatomic particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons. The atomic number is defined as the number of protons in an atom, which also equals the number of electrons in a neutral atom. The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus, while the atomic mass accounts for the average mass of an element's isotopes.
Key Concepts
- The three main subatomic particles are:
- Protons (positively charged, found in the nucleus)
- Neutrons (neutral charge, found in the nucleus)
- Electrons (negatively charged, orbiting the nucleus)
The relationship between protons and atomic number is that the atomic number uniquely identifies an element. For instance, carbon has an atomic number of 6 because it has 6 protons. The relationship between protons, neutrons, and mass number can be described mathematically: mass number = protons + neutrons.
To determine the number of neutrons in a carbon-14 atom, subtract the atomic number (6) from the mass number (14): 14 - 6 = 8. Thus, carbon-14 has 8 neutrons.
An isotope is defined as an atom of the same element with a differing number of neutrons. For instance, if you had a bag that represented carbon-12 and another for carbon-14, they would be considered isotopes of carbon.
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