Question
Science Question on Atomic Number and Mass Number
Composition of the nuclei of two atomic species X and Y are given as under
| X| Y
---|---|---
Protons | 6| 6
Neutrons| 6| 6
Give the mass numbers of X and Y. What is the relation between the two species?
Answer
Mass number of X = Number of protons + Number of neutrons = 6 + 6 = 12
Mass number of Y = Number of protons + Number of neutrons = 6 + 8 = 14
These two atomic species X and Y have the same atomic number, but different mass numbers. Hence, they are isotopes.