What are #""^12C#, and #""^14C#?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 11, 2016

You have 2 isotopes of carbon: #""^12C#; and #""^14C#. Each isotope has 6 protons in its nuclei (this is what makes a CARBON) isotope.

Explanation:

In the nuclei of #""^12C# and #""^14C#, there are respectively #6# and #8# neutrons, neutrally charged, massive nuclear particles (the combined mass of the protons and the neutrons gives the isotope number). (Note that I don't have to write #""_6C# because the #C# symbol specifies the atomic number, #Z=6#).

The chemistry of an element, any element, is a property of electronic structure. Each carbon isotope has 6 electrons: 2 inner core; and 4 valence electrons. And thus the chemistry of each isotope should be the same to a first approximation.

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