Which of the following best describes the fundamental difference between two different chemical elements (such as oxygen and carbon)?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The number of protons in an element's nucleus determines its atomic number, which defines the element. Different elements have different numbers of protons, hence this is the fundamental difference between them. The other options do not provide a fundamental difference between elements - B is simply a naming convention, C is related to the mass of the element but does not reflect the distinguishing factor between elements, and D is related to the element's reactivity but does not define the element itself.

Which of the Following Best Describes the Fundamental Difference Between