How many, and what type of nuclear particles occur in #""^12C#, #""^13C#, and #""^14C#?

1 Answer
Aug 22, 2016

Well, their nuclei all contain 6 protons........

Explanation:

Well, their nuclei all contain 6 protons, massive, positively charged nuclear particles. The standard #""^12C# isotope also contains 6 neutrons, 6 massive, neutrally charged nuclear particles. A smaller percentage contains 7 neutrons, to give the #""^13C# isotope, which is a very important isotope for NMR experiments, and an even smaller percentage contains 8 neutrons to give #""^14C#.

That each isotope each contains 6 protons, defines the identity of the nuclide as carbon.