The carbon atom is sometimes listed as carbon-12 and sometimes as carbon-14. What does this mean?

A.
These are two allotropes of the carbon atom. Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons and carbon-14 has 8 neutrons.

B.
These are two isotopes of the carbon atom. Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons and carbon-14 has 8 neutrons.

C.
These are two allotropes of the carbon atom. Carbon-12 has 6 protons and carbon-14 has 8 protons.

D.
These are two isotopes of the carbon atom. Carbon-12 has 6 protons and carbon-14 has 8 protons.

Question

The carbon atom is sometimes listed as carbon-12 and sometimes as carbon-14. What does this mean? 	
	
 
A.
	These are two allotropes of the carbon atom. Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons and carbon-14 has 8 neutrons.
	
 
B.
	These are two isotopes of the carbon atom. Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons and carbon-14 has 8 neutrons.
	
 
C.
	These are two allotropes of the carbon atom. Carbon-12 has 6 protons and carbon-14 has 8 protons.
	
 
D.
	These are two isotopes of the carbon atom. Carbon-12 has 6 protons and carbon-14 has 8 protons.

gebooors · Answer

Allotropic forms of Carbon are graphite, diamond, 
Fullerene and grafene. Single atom of same element may have isotopes.
In nucleus, there is same number of protons, but different
Number of neutrons.
Carbon -12 (6 neutrons) and Carbon-13 (7 neutrons)
Are stable, but Carbon -14 is unstable isotope.