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Carbon-14 contains six protons and how many neutrons?
AEight neutrons
BFourteen neutrons
CSix neutrons
DSeven neutrons
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Eight neutrons
1. The number after the element name is the mass number, protons plus neutrons.
2. Carbon always has six protons, since that is what makes it carbon.
3. Carbon-14 contains six protons, eight neutrons and six electrons; its atomic mass is 14.
4. Carbon-12, by contrast, contains six protons, six neutrons and six electrons.
_Source: OpenStax Biology for AP(R) Courses (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 'The Chemical Foundation of Life', sections 2.1-2.3_
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