How can you identify two ways in which carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14 are alike?

1 Answer
anor277
Sep 23, 2016

All the carbon nuclides have #Z=6#...........

Explanation:

All the carbon nuclides have #Z=6#, where #Z# equals the number of massive, positively charge particles present in the carbon nucleus. Of course, in the given isotopes, #""^12C#, #""^13C#, #""^14C#, there are #6#, #7#, and #8# neutrons, massive, neutrally charged nuclear particles in each nucleus.

And because these nuclides are NEUTRAL, there must 6 electrons, fundamental, negatively charged particles of negligible mass in each isotope. So there are your two: protons and electrons.

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