Why do some atoms have more neutrons?
The reason is that protons, being charged particles, repel each other. As you get to heavier elements, with each new proton you add, there is a larger repulsive force. As the nuclei get larger, the neutron well gets deeper as compared to the proton well and you get more neutrons than protons.
Why do some atoms of the same element have different numbers of neutrons?
Isotopes of any given element all contain the same number of protons, so they have the same atomic number (for example, the atomic number of helium is always 2). Isotopes of a given element contain different numbers of neutrons, therefore, different isotopes have different mass numbers.
What does it mean when an atom has more neutrons than protons and electrons?
The atom that has a charge is also called an ion and when it is positive it is called a cation. Negatively charge atoms, or atoms with more electrons than protons, are called anions. When an atom has more neutrons than protons, most of these isotopes are radioactive.
Can atom have more neutrons?
The number of neutrons gives you the isotope of the given element. The more neutrons, the heavier the element. The number of neutrons also affects the stability of the nucleus: too many or too few, and the nucleus comes apart. (This is called nuclear fission, and it creates new nuclei with lower atomic numbers.)
Can atoms have more neutrons than protons?
But to answer your question directly, yes, there are stable nuclei with more protons than neutrons. The most obvious one is H-1, and the other He-3.
What do all atoms of the same element have the same?
All atoms of an element have the same number of protons, and every element has a different number of protons in its atoms. Atoms are neutral in electrical charge because they have the same number of negative electrons as positive protons (Table 2.4.
What if an atom has more protons than electrons?
An ion is a charged atom or molecule. If the atom has more electrons than protons, it is a negative ion, or ANION. If it has more protons than electrons,it is a positive ion.
What do you call an atom with more neutrons than protons?
An atom with more neutrons than protons is called isotope.
Do all atoms of the same element contain the same number of neutrons explain?
All atoms of the same element have the same number of protons, but some may have different numbers of neutrons. For example, all carbon atoms have six protons, and most have six neutrons as well. Atoms of the same element that differ in their numbers of neutrons are called isotopes.