What property of the atom changes when a neutron is added?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 18, 2016

Well, clearly its mass changes; its elemental identity does NOT change.

Explanation:

The identity of an element depends on #Z#, the atomic number, which is the number of positively charged, massive nuclear particles. That being said, the nucleus of an element may contain varying numbers of neutrons, massive, neutrally charged nuclear particles. This gives rise to the phenomenon of isotopes, and the average mass of the individual isotopes. Capisce?

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