If two protons and two neutrons are removed from the nucleus of an oxygen-16 atom, a nucleus of which element remains?
Carbon 12 will be the answer, but i need to understand the answer. I requested help from a friend but was given the answer and not explained. I am having a hard time reading and understanding the the periodic table. Can you please help. Thank you.
Well, oxygen-16 (O-16) is an atom that normally consists of 8 protons and 8 neutrons in its nucleus. If we remove two protons and two neutrons from this nucleus, we are effectively removing a helium nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons).
So, we're left with 6 protons and 6 neutrons, which is the exact configuration of a carbon-12 (C-12) nucleus. Carbon has 6 protons in its nucleus, hence the atomic number 6, and its most abundant isotope, carbon-12, has 6 neutrons.
Therefore, by removing the helium nucleus from the oxygen-16 atom, we're left with a carbon-12 nucleus. It's like a little atomic transformation with a touch of nucleus swapping!
Sure, I can help you understand why the nucleus remaining after removing two protons and two neutrons from an oxygen-16 atom is carbon-12.
First, let's understand the structure of an oxygen-16 atom. An oxygen-16 atom consists of 8 protons, which determine its atomic number, and 8 neutrons, which along with protons form its atomic mass. The total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus is called the mass number. Oxygen, with an atomic number of 8, is represented by the symbol "O" on the periodic table.
Now, let's remove two protons and two neutrons from the nucleus of an oxygen-16 atom. This means we are subtracting 2 from the atomic number, resulting in an atomic number of 6. Carbon, with an atomic number of 6, is represented by the symbol "C" on the periodic table.
However, we also need to consider the atomic mass. By removing two protons and two neutrons, we are subtracting 4 from the atomic mass. The atomic mass of an oxygen-16 atom is 16, so removing 4 results in an atomic mass of 12. Carbon-12, with an atomic mass of 12, is represented by the symbol "C" on the periodic table.
Therefore, removing two protons and two neutrons from the nucleus of an oxygen-16 atom results in a nucleus of carbon-12, which is represented by the symbol "C" on the periodic table.
Of course! I'd be happy to help you understand how to determine the element that remains when two protons and two neutrons are removed from the nucleus of an oxygen-16 atom.
To explain this, we need to understand the structure of an atom. Atoms consist of a central nucleus made up of protons and neutrons, surrounded by a cloud of electrons. The number of protons in an atom determines its atomic number, which defines the element.
In the case of oxygen-16, the "16" refers to the mass number, which is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Oxygen-16 has 8 protons and 8 neutrons.
The question asks what element remains when two protons and two neutrons are removed. Removing protons changes the atomic number, while removing neutrons changes the mass number.
When two protons are removed, the atomic number decreases by 2. Oxygen has an atomic number of 8, so removing 2 protons would give us an atomic number of 6.
When two neutrons are removed, the mass number decreases by 2. Oxygen-16 has a mass number of 16, so removing 2 neutrons would give us a mass number of 14.
Now, we need to find the element with an atomic number of 6 and a mass number of 14. We can consult the periodic table for this. Carbon (C) has an atomic number of 6 and a mass number of 12 (rounded to the nearest whole number). Therefore, the element that remains when the protons and neutrons are removed from the oxygen-16 nucleus is carbon-12.
I hope this explanation helps! If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.