Which of the following atoms has the smallest number of neutrons?

• A. Nitrogen-14 (^{14}N)
• B. Carbon-13 (^{13}C)
• C. Carbon-12 (^{12}C)
• D. Carbon-14 (^{14}C)

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atomic number (number of protons) for each element: Nitrogen (N) has 7 protons, Carbon (C) has 6 protons.
2. Recall that the number of neutrons in an atom is calculated by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number: \(\text{Number of neutrons} = \text{Mass number} - \text{Atomic number}\).
3. Calculate the number of neutrons for each isotope: For Nitrogen-14, neutrons = 14 - 7; for Carbon-13, neutrons = 13 - 6; for Carbon-12, neutrons = 12 - 6; for Carbon-14, neutrons = 14 - 6.
4. Compare the neutron counts obtained for each isotope to determine which has the smallest number of neutrons.
5. Select the isotope with the smallest neutron number as the answer.