Question

A sample of carbon atoms is found to contain atoms that have mass numbers of $12$, $13$ and $14$. Which statement best describes how this is possible?

• A. The are different atoms in the same besides carbon.
• B. The are different ions of carbon in the sample.
• C. The carbon atoms in the sample have a different number of protons.
• D. The carbon atoms in the sample have a different number of electrons.
• E. The carbon atoms in the sample have a different number of neutrons.

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

The carbon atoms in the sample have a different number of neutrons.

Elements have their isotopes which represent same element with same atomic number but with different mass number. In this following case carbon is present with three isotope $C^{12},C^{13}and{C}^{14}$, which have different number of neutron.