If two protons and two neutrons are removed from the nucleus of an oxygen-16 atom, a nucleus of which element remains? It was simple to say that oxygen-16 remains but is there a formula for this.

Question

Thank you

Answer 1

I'm missing something or you are. Arithmetic is what you use BUT the answer is not O-16 remains.
O has 8 protons + 8 neutrons. That is O16.
If you take two protons away, that leave 8-2=6 protons which is carbon or C. Taking two neutrons away gives 8-2=6. The six protons + six neutrons = 12 nucleons and the answer 6-C-12 remains. If I could write subscripts and superscript correctly for this the 6 is a subscript in the lower left before C and the 12 is a superscript in the upper left before C.