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Multiple Choice
How many neutrons are present in a typical atom of carbon-12?
A
4
B
6
C
12
D
8
Verified step by step guidance
1
Identify the atomic number of carbon, which is the number of protons in the nucleus. For carbon, the atomic number is 6.
Recognize that the isotope notation 'carbon-12' indicates the mass number (A), which is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, is 12.
Use the relationship between mass number (A), atomic number (Z), and number of neutrons (N): \(N = A - Z\).
Substitute the known values into the formula: \(N = 12 - 6\).
Calculate the number of neutrons by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number to find the neutron count.