Question

A nuclide has the symbol ${}_6^{14}C$. How many protons are there in one nucleus of this nuclide?

Answer 1

Hint: Symbol of a nuclide is represent as ${}_Z^{A}X$, where $A$ is atomic mass of nuclide, $Z$ is atomic number of nuclide and $X$ is symbol of atom or element. Number of protons in a nuclide is equal to the atomic number.

Complete step by step solution:
We know that the symbol of a nuclide is represented as ${}_Z^{A}X$, where $A$ is atomic mass of nuclide, $Z$ is atomic number of nuclide and $X$ is symbol of atom or element. Number of protons in a nuclide is equal to the atomic number.
Here the atomic number of a given atom nuclide is 6. Hence there are 6 protons in the nuclide.
Here in the given question the value of A is 14 and Z is 6 so the number of protons is 6 and number of atomic mass is 14.
This is an isobar of nitrogen, isobars have the same atomic weight but different atomic number. Similarly isotopes have the same atomic number but different atomic mass.
Generally isotopes have the same physical and chemical properties but isobars don’t have the same chemical properties.
So, the correct answer is option A.

Note: Nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons. Atomic mass of an atom is the sum of the number of protons and number of neutrons. Number of protons is equal to the atomic number and the number of neutrons is the difference of atomic mass and atomic number. Number of electrons in an atom is also equal to the atomic number in neutral state. An atom can have more or less number of electrons in comparison to atomic number but the number of neutron and proton always remain the same in ionic form also.