How many neutrons are in an atom of carbon with a mass number of 14?



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Carbon has an atomic number of 6, which means it contains 6 electrons. To find the number of neutrons, just subtract the atomic number from the mass number. So 14-6 = 8.

There are 8 neutrons in an atom of carbon with a mass number of 14.

Eight is correct for the number of neutrons. Carbon-14 is an important isotope used for radioactive dating of carbon-containing organic matter. Its half life is 5568 years.

To determine the number of neutrons in an atom, you need to know its mass number and atomic number. The atomic number of an element represents the number of protons in its nucleus. The mass number, on the other hand, represents the total number of protons and neutrons.

In the case of carbon-14, the "14" refers to the mass number. Carbon always has an atomic number of 6, which means it normally has six protons. To find the number of neutrons, subtract the atomic number from the mass number.

For carbon-14:
Number of neutrons = Mass number - Atomic number
= 14 - 6
= 8

Therefore, an atom of carbon-14 has 8 neutrons.