Which of the following is the correct symbol for the isotope of potassium that has 22 neutrons?

• A. ^{41}K
• B. ^{39}K
• C. ^{42}K
• D. ^{22}K

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall that the symbol for an isotope is written as \(^{A}X\), where \(A\) is the mass number (total number of protons and neutrons) and \(X\) is the chemical symbol of the element.
2. Identify the atomic number (number of protons) of potassium (K), which is 19. This is a fixed property for all potassium atoms.
3. Calculate the mass number \(A\) by adding the number of protons and neutrons: \(A = \text{protons} + \text{neutrons} = 19 + 22\).
4. Write the isotope symbol using the calculated mass number and the element symbol: \(^{A}K\).
5. Compare the calculated isotope symbol with the given options to select the correct one.