Which of the following best describes the fundamental difference between two different chemical elements (such as oxygen and carbon)?
A)They have different atomic mass numbers.
B)They have different numbers of protons in their nucleus.
C)They have different numbers of electrons.
D)They have different names.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The number of protons in an element's nucleus, also referred to as the atomic number, determines the unique identity of the element. All elements with the same number of protons are classified as the same element. Therefore, the fundamental difference between two different chemical elements is the number of protons in their nucleus. Choices A, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of the fundamental difference between elements.

Which of the Following Best Describes the Fundamental Difference Between