This question seems to be an essay question from experiment. Different solution of oxidizing agent will have different strength. Sulfuric acid or H2SO4 is weaker oxidizing agent when compared to nitric acid (HNO3). In this case, if you subtitute the H2SO4 you wouldn't be able to get the same result for the experiment.
Different amount of species in an area.
Well, if you look at group 1 of the periodic table, you will notice a thrend. All elements in group 1 have 1 valence / outer electron. Then you look at period 2, 3, 4 and so on, you will see that the group number corresponds the number of valence/ outershell electrons. Hence, the group determines the electron(s) on the outershell.
Your answer is C forms of the same element that differ in the number of neutrons in each atom because if the number of neutrons change the whole element changes.
