Question

Find the relationship between one atom containing 12 protons, 12 electrons, and 12 neutrons and another atom containing 12 Protons,12 electrons, and 13 neutrons.

Answer 1

• If an atom ‘X’ contains 12 protons, 12 electrons, and 12 neutrons then its atomic number is 12 and its atomic mass is 24.
• That atom ‘X’ is represented as ${}_{12}{}^{}\mathrm{X}^{24}$.
• If an atom ‘Y’ contains 12 protons, 12 electrons, and 13 neutrons then its atomic number is 12 and its atomic mass is 25.
• That atom ‘Y’ is represented as${}_{12}{}^{}\mathrm{Y}^{25}$.
• Atom ‘X’ and ‘Y' contains the same atomic number but a different atomic mass, so they are isotopes.
• ISOTOPES: The isotopes of an element have the same atomic number but different atomic masses.