Question

An atom of the same element that differs by the number of neutronsa) anionsb) cationsc) element d) isotope e) atom

Answer 1

Answer:

• Option d) isotope.

Explanation:

All atoms of a same element have equal number of protons (atomic number) but may differ in the number of neutrons.

The atoms that differ in the number of neutrons are named isotopes.

For example: carbon-12 and carbon-13 are diferent isotopes of the same element, carbon. They have the same number of protons (6, which is the atomic number of carbon). On the other hand, while carbon-12 has 6 neutrons, carbon-13  has 7 neutrons.

As per the other choices:

• a) anions are ions with negative charges: atoms (or group of atoms) that have gained one or more electrons.

• b) cations are ions with positive charge: atoms (or group of atoms) that have lost one or more electrons.

• e) atoms are the individual minimum parts of an element that preserves the properties of such element. All atoms of the same element have the same number of protons and have, essentially, the same chemical properties.