Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

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Prepare for the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam with interactive quizzes. Enhance your knowledge with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Ace your exam and advance your nursing career!

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Carbon-12 and carbon-14 are examples of what type of atoms?

Elements
Isotopes
Ions
Molecules

The correct answer is: Isotopes

Carbon-12 and carbon-14 are classified as isotopes because they are both forms of the element carbon that have the same number of protons (which is 6 for carbon) but different numbers of neutrons. Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons, while carbon-14 has 8 neutrons. This variation in neutron number leads to different atomic masses for the two isotopes. Isotopes of an element retain the same chemical properties because they have the same electron configuration, but they may exhibit differences in physical properties and stability. In the case of carbon-14, it is radioactive and decays over time, which is often utilized in dating archaeological and geological samples. Understanding the concept of isotopes is essential in fields such as chemistry, biology, and environmental science, as it affects reactions and processes involving carbon.