Question 1
Question detail
How do isotopes of an element differ in terms of mass number?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Atoms and isotopes
Question
How do isotopes of an element differ in terms of mass number?
Answer
Isotopes of an element differ in mass number because they contain different numbers of neutrons. While they have the same number of protons, the varying neutron count changes the total mass of the atom.
Explanation
This question assesses the student's understanding of the relationship between neutrons and mass number in isotopes. It encourages students to explain the concept rather than just recall it.
Common mistake
Misidentifying Isotopes
Students often think that isotopes differ in the number of protons rather than neutrons, so they describe isotopes as having different atomic numbers.
Remind that isotopes are atoms of the same element (same atomic number) that have different numbers of neutrons, giving them different mass numbers.
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