Matthew is looking at two different atoms. One has 8 protons and 10 neutrons. The other substance has 8 protons and 12 neutrons. Are these the same element? Why or why not?
Yes. They are the same element because they have the same number of protons.
No. They are not the same element because they have a different number of neutrons.
1 answer
The second answer is correct. Although they have the same number of protons, the different number of neutrons means they are different isotopes of the same element.