Which of the following is correct for isotopes of the same element?
A) The atoms have different numbers of protons and the same number of neutrons.
B) The atoms have the same number of electrons and different numbers of protons.
C) The atoms have different numbers of neutrons and the same number of protons.
D) The atoms have different numbers of electrons but the same number of neutrons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Isotopes of the same element have the same number of protons (since they are the same element), but different numbers of neutrons. This results in isotopes with different atomic masses. The number of electrons can vary in isotopes, but this does not distinguish them as isotopes of the same element. Thus, option C is the correct answer.

Which of the Following Is Correct for Isotopes of the Same