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Carbon-14 has 8 neutrons and 6 protons. When this radioisotope undergoes the radioactive decay process it becomes nitrogen-14.
The number of protons in nitrogen-14 is?


Sagot :

Answer:

  • Nº of protons = Atomic number → 7
  • Nº of neutrons = Massic number - Atomic number → 14 - 6 = 7

Explanation:

Probably, you will find it useful to know how to deduct this information for any other isotope.

To interpreter the representation of an isotope, you need to know that the symbol representing the isotopes is the same as the chemical element. The representation also includes a superior number that indicates the massic number, and an inferior number that indicates the atomic number.

Isotope representation ⇒  ⁰ X ₙ

Where

  • X is the element
  • o is the massic number, which is defined as the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons.  
  • n is the atomic number, which is the number of protons.

(Note: You can also find the O symbol as m symbol. Both represent the same massic number)

When protons, neutrons, and electrons get together to form an atom, they lose part of their mass as energy. This is why the atomic weight is slightly inferior to the sum of masses.

In the periodic table, there is only one value of atomic mass, which belongs to the media mass of isotopes pondered by their abundance in nature.

So, what you need to know is that

  • Nº of protons = Atomic number → n
  • Nº of neutrons = Massic number - Atomic number → o - n (or m - n)
  • Nº of Electrons = Nº of protons = Atomic number → n

Carbon-14 forms in the atmosphere, it is radioactive and unstable. When they emit an electron and an antineutrino, they become Nitrogen-14.

Isotope representation ⇒  ¹⁴ C ₆  

  • Massic number = 14
  • Atomic number = 6  

So, from this information we can assume that

  • Nº of protons = Atomic number → 6
  • Nº of neutrons = Massic number - Atomic number → 14 - 6 = 8
  • Nº of Electrons = Nº of protons = Atomic number → 6

So, from this information we can assume that

  • Massic number = 14
  • Atomic number = 6  

The same reasoning can be used to determine the number of protons and neutrons of nitrogen-14.

Isotope representation ⇒  ¹⁴ N ₇  

  • Massic number = 14
  • Atomic number = 7

So, from this information, we can assume that

  • Nº of protons = Atomic number → 7
  • Nº of neutrons = Massic number - Atomic number → 14 - 6 = 7
  • Nº of Electrons = Nº of protons = Atomic number → 7