Question

Which of the following describes the difference between nitrogen-14 and nitrogen-15?

a. Nitrogen-14 has 14 electrons, 14 protons, and 14 neutrons; nitrogen-15 has 15 electrons, and 15 protons, and 15 neutrons.
b. Nitrogen-14 has 7 electrons, 7 protons, and 7 neutrons; nitrogen-15 has 8 electrons, and 8 protons, and 8 neutrons.
c. Nitrogen-14 has 14 electrons, 14 protons, and 14 neutrons; nitrogen-15 has 14 electrons, and 14 protons, and 15 neutrons.
d. Nitrogen-14 has 7 electrons, 7 protons, and 7 neutrons; nitrogen-15 has 7 electrons, and 7 protons, and 8 neutrons.

Answer 1

Some of these can easily be eliminated by knowing that both nitrogen 14 and nitrogen 15 are isotopes ( same element, with the same amount of protons, but with different numbers of neutrons) of nitrogen. So if the only difference between nitrogen 14, 15 , and regular nitrogen is the amount of neutrons...how many protons and electrons should both nitrogen 14 and 15 have? After thinking, you should be able to eliminate A, B,and C.