Answer to Question #77469 in General Chemistry for Christopher Phillips

Question

The table gives the number of protons and neutrons in the nuclei of various atoms. Which of the following statements about the atoms is true?


A: Atoms 1 and 2 are isotopes of the same element, and atoms 1 and 3 have the same atomic mass number.



B: Atoms 2 and 3 are isotopes of the same element, and atoms 1 and 2 have the same atomic mass number.



C: Atoms 1 and 3 are isotopes of the same element, and atoms 2 and 3 have the same atomic mass number.



D: Atoms 1 and 3 are isotopes of the same element, and atoms 3 and 4 have the same atomic mass number.

This one has always puzzled me.

Answer 1

You have not provided a table with information, so I can`t see atoms 1, 2, 3.that isotopes are atoms of the same element having the same numbers of protons (atomic number), but different numbers of neutrons. They have same chemical properties due to the same electronic configuration but different physical properties. For example, 3He and 4He are isotopes.