The table to the right gives the number of protons (p) and neutrons (n) for four isotopes. (a) Write the symbol for each of the isotopes.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the element by its number of protons. The atomic number, which is the number of protons, determines the element. For example, if an isotope has 6 protons, it corresponds to Carbon (C).
2. Determine the mass number of each isotope. The mass number is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. For instance, if an isotope has 6 protons and 8 neutrons, its mass number is 14.
3. Write the symbol for each isotope using the format: \\( ^{mass\ number}_{atomic\ number}Element \\). For the example above with Carbon, the symbol would be \\( ^{14}_6C \\).
4. Repeat the process for each isotope listed in the table, ensuring to use the correct atomic number and mass number for each.
5. Review the symbols to ensure they correctly represent the isotopes as per the data given in the table regarding the number of protons and neutrons.

Key Concepts

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This difference in neutron count results in varying atomic masses for the isotopes of the same element. For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon, with 6 protons and 6 or 8 neutrons, respectively.

Nuclear Symbol Notation

Nuclear symbol notation is a way to represent isotopes using the element's symbol along with its mass number and atomic number. The mass number (total number of protons and neutrons) is written as a superscript to the left of the element symbol, while the atomic number (number of protons) is written as a subscript. For instance, the notation for carbon-14 is written as ¹⁴₆C.

Atomic Structure

Atomic structure refers to the arrangement of protons, neutrons, and electrons within an atom. Protons and neutrons reside in the nucleus, while electrons orbit around the nucleus in electron shells. Understanding atomic structure is essential for identifying isotopes, as it helps clarify how variations in neutron numbers affect the overall properties of the element.