Question

1. neon has two isotopes: neon - 20 and neon - 21

a. which isotope has the greater mass?
b. which has more neutrons?
c. which has more protons?
d. which has more electrons?

Explanation:

Step1: Understand isotopes

Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons (and electrons in neutral atoms) but different numbers of neutrons. The mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons.

Step2: Analyze mass

The mass number of neon - 20 is 20 and of neon - 21 is 21. Since mass number is related to mass (as it's the sum of protons and neutrons which contribute to mass), neon - 21 has a greater mass.

Step3: Calculate neutrons

For neon (atomic number \(Z = 10\), number of protons \(p=10\)).
For neon - 20: number of neutrons \(n_1=20 - 10=10\)
For neon - 21: number of neutrons \(n_2=21 - 10 = 11\)
So neon - 21 has more neutrons.

Step4: Protons

Since they are isotopes of the same element (neon, atomic number \(Z = 10\)), both have 10 protons.

Step5: Electrons

In neutral atoms, number of electrons equals number of protons. Since both are neutral (as isotopes are in standard form unless stated otherwise) and have 10 protons, both have 10 electrons.

Answer:

a. Neon - 21
b. Neon - 21
c. Neither, both have 10 protons
d. Neither, both have 10 electrons