Is is true that all isotopes of carbon C have the same number of protons
The correct answer and explanation is:
Yes, it is true that all isotopes of carbon (C) have the same number of protons.
Carbon has an atomic number of 6, which means that every carbon atom, regardless of its isotope, contains 6 protons in its nucleus. This is a defining characteristic of the element carbon and determines its chemical properties. The difference between the isotopes of carbon lies in the number of neutrons in the nucleus, not in the number of protons.
Carbon has several isotopes, the most common being Carbon-12 (¹²C) and Carbon-14 (¹⁴C). Carbon-12 has 6 protons and 6 neutrons, while Carbon-14 has 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Another isotope, Carbon-13 (¹³C), has 6 protons and 7 neutrons. Despite these differences in the number of neutrons, the number of protons remains unchanged at 6 in all carbon isotopes.
The number of neutrons in an isotope affects its mass and certain nuclear properties, but it does not influence the chemical behavior of the element. This is because the chemical properties of an element are primarily determined by the arrangement of electrons around the nucleus, and this electron configuration is the same for all carbon isotopes.
The fact that carbon isotopes have the same number of protons allows them to engage in the same types of chemical reactions. However, isotopes can differ in their stability. For example, Carbon-14 is radioactive and undergoes beta decay, which is the process used in radiocarbon dating to estimate the age of ancient biological materials. Carbon-12 and Carbon-13, on the other hand, are stable and do not undergo radioactive decay.
In summary, all isotopes of carbon have 6 protons, which is the defining feature of the element, but they differ in the number of neutrons.