Question

In a sample of ethyl ethanoate (CH₃COOC₂H₅), the two oxygen atoms have the same number of electrons but different number of neutrons. Which of the following is the correct reason for it ?

(a) one of the oxygen atoms has gained electrons

(b) one of the oxygen atoms has gained protons

(c) the two oxygen atoms are isotopes

(d) the two oxygen atoms are isobars

Answer 1

(c) the two oxygen atoms are isotopes

As the number of protons is same but the number of neutrons is different, the mass number of the two oxygen atoms is different. So, these two are isotopes of each other.