Which of the following statements best characterizes the isotopes of an element?
A) They have different numbers of electrons.
B) They have different numbers of neutrons.
C) They have different numbers of protons.
D) They have different numbers of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons (atomic number), but different numbers of neutrons (varying atomic masses). The number of electrons can also vary slightly, but this does not define or characterize the isotopes of an element. The statement in option D is incorrect, as isotopes have the same number of protons and electrons but differ in the number of neutrons.

Which of the Following Statements Best Characterizes the Isotopes of an Element