Test your understanding of isotopes by selecting the correct relationship between the pair of atoms
${ }_5^{11} B$
Boron-10
A. Different Element
B. Same Atom, Not Isotopes of Each Other
C. Isotopes
Answer (1)
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.
Both Boron-11 and Boron-10 have the same atomic number (5), so they are the same element.
They have different mass numbers (11 and 10), indicating different numbers of neutrons.
Therefore, Boron-11 and Boron-10 are Isotopes .
Explanation
Understanding Isotopes We are given two atoms: Boron-11 ( 5 11 B ) and Boron-10. We need to determine the relationship between them based on the concept of isotopes. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different mass numbers.
Analyzing Boron-11 Boron-11 has an atomic number of 5, which means it has 5 protons. Its mass number is 11, which is the total number of protons and neutrons. Therefore, Boron-11 has 11 - 5 = 6 neutrons.
Analyzing Boron-10 Boron-10 also has an atomic number of 5, meaning it has 5 protons. Its mass number is 10, so it has 10 - 5 = 5 neutrons.
Determining the Relationship Since both atoms have the same atomic number (5), they are the same element (Boron). However, they have different mass numbers (11 and 10) due to different numbers of neutrons (6 and 5, respectively). Therefore, they are isotopes of each other.
Final Answer The correct answer is (c) Isotopes.
Examples
Isotopes are crucial in various fields. For example, in medicine, radioactive isotopes like iodine-131 are used in thyroid treatments. Carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon, is used in carbon dating to determine the age of ancient artifacts. Understanding isotopes helps scientists and researchers in these diverse applications.
