PHS 100 - Self Assessment

Competency #5 & #11

Answer and Explanation

Belief: The number of neutrons in an atom is always equal to the number of protons.

Answer:

Is the above statement true for an average carbon (C) atom? Is it true for all carbon atoms?

Yes, the statement is true for an average carbon atom, which has 6 protons and 6 neutrons. However, some carbon atoms have 7 neutrons and some have 8 neutrons, so the statement does not hold true for all carbon atoms. Note that ALL carbon atoms have 6 protons.

Is the above statement true for an average fluorine (F) atom?

No, the above statement is not true for an average fluorine atom, which has 9 protons and 10 neutrons.