What is the difference between the isotopes [tex]${ }^{11}_5 B$[/tex] and [tex]${ }^{10}_5 B$[/tex]?
A. One contains an additional proton. B. One contains an additional neutron. C. One contains an additional electron. D. There is no difference between the isotopes.
Certainly! Let's understand the differences between isotopes to solve this question.
1. Understanding Isotopes: - Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This means that they are the same element (with the same atomic number) but have different mass numbers.
2. Given Isotopes: - We are given the isotopes [tex]\({ }^{11}_5 B\)[/tex] and [tex]\({ }^{10}_5 B\)[/tex]. - The subscript (5) represents the atomic number, which is the number of protons in the boron atom. - The superscripts (11 and 10) represent the mass numbers of the isotopes, which are the sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.
3. Counting Protons and Neutrons: - Both isotopes have the same atomic number: 5. Hence, both have the same number of protons, which is 5. - For [tex]\({ }^{11}_5 B\)[/tex]: The mass number is 11. To find the number of neutrons: [tex]\(11 - 5 = 6\)[/tex] neutrons. - For [tex]\({ }^{10}_5 B\)[/tex]: The mass number is 10. To find the number of neutrons: [tex]\(10 - 5 = 5\)[/tex] neutrons.
4. Identifying the Difference: - Comparing the number of neutrons: - [tex]\({ }^{11}_5 B\)[/tex] has 6 neutrons. - [tex]\({ }^{10}_5 B\)[/tex] has 5 neutrons. - Thus, the difference between the isotopes is that [tex]\({ }^{11}_5 B\)[/tex] contains one additional neutron compared to [tex]\({ }^{10}_5 B\)[/tex].
The correct answer is: B. One contains an additional neutron.
