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Carbon-13 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 9 - 2019 - Paper 1

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Carbon-13 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon. Nuclei of carbon-13 and carbon-14 can be represented by these symbols \[ \text{ } ^{13}_{6} \text{C} \text{ and } ^{... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Carbon-13 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 9 - 2019 - Paper 1

Step 1

Complete the table for carbon-13

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Answer

To find the number of neutrons in carbon-13, we subtract the atomic number (6) from the mass number (13):

Number of neutrons=13−6=7\text{Number of neutrons} = 13 - 6 = 7

The number of electrons in a neutral atom is equal to the number of protons, which is also 6 for carbon-13.

Thus, the table entry for carbon-13 is:

  • Number of neutrons: 7
  • Number of electrons: 6

Step 2

Complete the table for carbon-14

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Answer

Similarly, for carbon-14, the number of neutrons is calculated as:

Number of neutrons=14−6=8\text{Number of neutrons} = 14 - 6 = 8

Again, for a neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons, which is still 6 for carbon-14.

Thus, the table entry for carbon-14 is:

  • Number of neutrons: 8
  • Number of electrons: 6

Step 3

State the name of an instrument that can be used to measure radioactivity

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Answer

One instrument that can be used to measure radioactivity is a Geiger-Müller counter.

Step 4

State two sources of background radiation

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Answer

  1. Cosmic rays from outer space.
  2. Radon gas found in the soil.

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