An atom has 28 protons, 32 neutrons, and 28 electrons. What is the name of this isotope?

Question

An atom has 28 protons, 32 neutrons, and 28 electrons. What is the name of this isotope??  
A. Nickel-32  
B. Nickel-60  
C. Germanium-56  
D. Germanium-60

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: (B)Nickel-60. 
Rationale: The name of this isotope is Nickel-60.Isotopes are named using the format "Element-MassNumber," where the element is identified by its proton count (atomic number), and the mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons.A) Nickel-32An atom with 28 protons is nickel (Ni), as its atomic number is 28. However, the mass number for the described atom is 28 protons + 32 neutrons = 60. Nickel-32 would refer to an isotope of nickel with a mass number of 32, which would imply only 4 neutrons (32-28=4). This is not the atom described.B) Nickel-60The proton count of 28 identifies the element as nickel. The mass number is calculated as protons + neutrons = 28 + 32 = 60. Therefore, the correct isotopic nomenclature is Nickel-60. This isotope is stable and exists naturally.C) Germanium-56Germanium (Ge) has an atomic number of 32, meaning it possesses 32 protons. The described atom has only 28 protons, so it cannot be germanium. Additionally, the mass number 56 does not match the calculation for the given composition (28+32=60).D) Germanium-60Again, the proton count of 28 rules out germanium, which requires 32 protons. Even if the mass number (60) were correct for some isotope, the element name is wrong because the fundamental identifier—the proton count—does not match.Conclusion:The atomic number (proton count) is the primary key for identifying an element. With 28 protons, the element is nickel. Adding the protons and neutrons yields the mass number of 60. Thus, the isotope is correctly named Nickel-60.

An atom has 28 protons, 32 neutrons, and 28 electrons. What is the name of this isotope?

A
Nickel-32

B
Nickel-60

C
Germanium-56

D
Germanium-60

The name of this isotope is Nickel-60.

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An atom has 28 protons, 32 neutrons, and 28 electrons. What is the name of this isotope?

A Nickel-32 B Nickel-60 C Germanium-56 D Germanium-60

The name of this isotope is Nickel-60.

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Related Questions

A
Nickel-32

B
Nickel-60

C
Germanium-56

D
Germanium-60