Carbon-13 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 3 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 3
Carbon-13 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon.
Nuclei of carbon-13 and carbon-14 can be represented by these symbols
\( \frac{13}{6}C \) and \( \frac{14}{6}C \)
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Worked Solution & Example Answer:Carbon-13 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 3 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
Complete the table for an atom of carbon-13
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Answer
For carbon-13, the number of neutrons is 7, calculated as follows:
Number of neutrons = Mass number - Atomic number = 13 - 6 = 7.
The number of electrons in carbon-13 is equal to the atomic number, which is 6.
Item
Value
Neutrons
7
Electrons
6
Step 2
Complete the table for an atom of carbon-14
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Answer
For carbon-14, the number of neutrons is 8, calculated as follows:
Number of neutrons = Mass number - Atomic number = 14 - 6 = 8.
The number of electrons in carbon-14 is also equal to the atomic number, which is 6.
Item
Value
Neutrons
8
Electrons
6
Step 3
State the name of an instrument that can be used to measure radioactivity.
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Answer
An instrument used to measure radioactivity is called a Geiger counter.
Step 4
State two sources of background radiation.
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