Test your understanding of isotopes by selecting the correct relationship between the pair of atoms
${ }_6^{13} C$
a Isotopes
b Different Element
c Same Atom, Not Isotopes of Each Other
Answer (1)
The two atoms have the same atomic number but different mass numbers. Therefore, they are isotopes. The answer is a. a
Explanation
Understanding the Atoms We are given two carbon atoms, 6 12 C and 6 13 C , and we need to determine the relationship between them. The subscript (6) represents the atomic number, which is the number of protons in the nucleus. The superscript (12 and 13) represents the mass number, which is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
Analyzing Atomic Numbers and Mass Numbers Let's analyze the given information:
Both atoms have the same atomic number (6), which means they both have 6 protons. This indicates that they are the same element: Carbon (C).
The first atom has a mass number of 12, meaning it has 6 protons and 6 neutrons (12 - 6 = 6).
The second atom has a mass number of 13, meaning it has 6 protons and 7 neutrons (13 - 6 = 7).
Determining the Relationship Since both atoms are the same element (same number of protons) but have different numbers of neutrons (different mass numbers), they are isotopes of each other. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Conclusion Therefore, the correct relationship between the two atoms 6 12 C and 6 13 C is that they are isotopes.
Examples
Isotopes are used in various fields, such as carbon dating in archaeology to determine the age of ancient artifacts. Different isotopes of carbon decay at different rates, allowing scientists to estimate the age of organic materials. In medicine, radioactive isotopes are used in imaging techniques like PET scans to diagnose diseases. Understanding isotopes is crucial in many scientific disciplines.
