Answer to Question #59384 in General Chemistry for Kenzie Jackson

Question

What are atoms and isotopes and how do they correspond?

Answer 1

Atoms сonsist of nucleus and electrons and nucleus include neutrons and protons. As usual, a uncharged atom contains an equal number of electrons and protons. Isotopes are those atoms who have more neutrons than protons of ordinary atoms. Though neutrons are electroneutral particles, increasing the amount of a mass is observed but not in charge. Thus , we can admit, the same element can exist in different forms, each form having the same atomic number, but different mass numbers. These forms are called isotopes.