Carbon-12, , and carbon-14, , are two isotopes of carbon. Carbon-12 is stable, but…

CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · US High School · Chemistry · Atomic Structure & Nuclear · Atomic Structure & Nuclear

Problem

Carbon-12,

{}_{6}^{12}\mathrm{C}

, and carbon-14,

{}_{6}^{14}\mathrm{C}

, are two isotopes of carbon. Carbon-12 is stable, but carbon-14 is unstable. (a) How many protons and neutrons are there in the nucleus of (i)

{}_{6}^{12}\mathrm{C}

and (ii)

{}_{6}^{14}\mathrm{C}

? (b) Suggest why

{}_{6}^{14}\mathrm{C}

is unstable. (c) How will

{}_{6}^{14}\mathrm{C}

decay? (d) Write a decay equation for the decay of

{}_{6}^{14}\mathrm{C}