Two atoms have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. What can you conclude about these two atoms?

Question

Wyatt Adkins · Accepted Answer

That they are isotopes, i.e. the same element, but different atomic masses.

The number of nuclear protons gives #Z#, the atomic number. The atomic number defines the identity of the element: #Z# = 6, #C#; #Z# = 27, #Co#; #Z# = 47, #Ag#. Most elements have multiple isotopes; the quoted atomic mass on the Periodic Table is the weighted average of the isotopes. Of course, even though the nucleus may contain the same number of nuclear protons, it may contain different numbers of neutrons; these lead to different isotopes; the same element and chemistry but different atomic mass.

Axel Alvarado · Answer

undefined Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons (which determines the identity of the element) but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different atomic masses. The two atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons belong to the same chemical element but may have different isotopes.

Mateo Aguilar · Answer

undefined Atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons are isotopes of the same element. Isotopes have the same atomic number (number of protons), which determines the element's identity, but they have different mass numbers due to the varying number of neutrons. This means that isotopes of the same element have identical chemical properties because they have the same number of protons and electrons, but they may differ in their atomic masses.