How many neutrons are present in C -14 isotope of carbon if its atomic number is 6.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
There are 8 neutrons in the C-14 isotope of carbon.
Explanation (300 words):
To find the number of neutrons in an atom, we use the following formula: Number of Neutrons=Mass Number (A)−Atomic Number (Z)\text{Number of Neutrons} = \text{Mass Number (A)} – \text{Atomic Number (Z)}
- The mass number (A) is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
- The atomic number (Z) is the number of protons, which also determines the element’s identity.
In the case of carbon-14 (C-14):
- The mass number (A) is 14. This is indicated by the “14” in “C-14”.
- The atomic number (Z) of carbon is 6, meaning it has 6 protons.
So, Number of Neutrons=14−6=8\text{Number of Neutrons} = 14 – 6 = 8
Therefore, the carbon-14 isotope has:
- 6 protons
- 8 neutrons
- 6 electrons (in a neutral atom)
What is Carbon-14?
Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon. While the most common carbon isotope is carbon-12 (C-12) with 6 protons and 6 neutrons, carbon-14 has two extra neutrons. It occurs naturally in the atmosphere in small amounts and is produced when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen atoms.
C-14 is particularly famous for its use in radiocarbon dating, a method used by archaeologists and geologists to determine the age of ancient organic materials. Since C-14 decays over time into nitrogen-14 through beta decay, scientists can measure the remaining amount in a sample to estimate its age.
Conclusion:
The C-14 isotope of carbon, having an atomic number of 6 and a mass number of 14, contains 8 neutrons in its nucleus. Understanding neutron count is essential in distinguishing between isotopes and recognizing their roles in chemistry and science.