How many neutrons are in an atom of carbon-12?

Question

How many neutrons are in an atom of carbon-12??  
A. 2  
B. 4  
C. 6  
D. 24

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: (C)6. 
Rationale: The number of neutrons in an atom of carbon-12 is 6.Carbon-12 is the most common isotope of carbon. The number written after the element name represents the mass number, which is the total count of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. To find the number of neutrons, the atomic number (protons) is subtracted from the mass number.Carbon has an atomic number of 6, meaning every carbon atom has 6 protons. In carbon-12, the mass number is 12, so the remaining particles in the nucleus must be neutrons.A. 2Two neutrons would give a mass number of 8 (6 protons + 2 neutrons), which does not correspond to carbon-12.B. 4Four neutrons would result in a mass number of 10, which would describe carbon-10, not carbon-12.C. 6Subtracting the atomic number from the mass number gives 12 − 6 = 6 neutrons.D. 24Twenty-four neutrons would give a mass number of 30, which is not carbon-12 and would represent an extremely unstable isotope.ConclusionCarbon-12 contains equal numbers of protons and neutrons. With 6 protons defining the element carbon and a total mass number of 12, the nucleus must contain 6 neutrons.

How many neutrons are in an atom of carbon-12?

A
2

B
4

C
6

D
24

The number of neutrons in an atom of carbon-12 is 6.

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Related Questions

How many neutrons are in an atom of carbon-12?

A 2 B 4 C 6 D 24

The number of neutrons in an atom of carbon-12 is 6.

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Related Questions

A
2

B
4

C
6

D
24