Carbon-14 and carbon-12 are isotopes of carbon - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 5
Carbon-14 and carbon-12 are isotopes of carbon.
Compare the structure of an atom of carbon-14 with the structure of an atom of carbon-12.
[3 marks]
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Carbon-14 and carbon-12 are isotopes of carbon - AQA - GCSE Physics - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
Similarity: Same Number of Protons
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Answer
Both carbon-14 and carbon-12 have the same number of protons, which is 6. This is also referred to as the atomic number.
Step 2
Similarity: Same Number of Electrons
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Answer
Both isotopes of carbon have the same number of electrons, which is also 6, maintaining charge neutrality.
Step 3
Difference: Number of Neutrons
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Answer
The primary difference between carbon-14 and carbon-12 is the number of neutrons. Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons while carbon-14 has 8 neutrons, giving them different mass numbers.
