Question

Do atoms have the same number of protons as its neutrons? I know that atoms can have different number of electrons compared to protons, but does the number protons and neutrons stay equal?

Answer 1

Not necessarily. The atomic mass equals the number of protons+neutrons, but they don’t necessarily have to be the same. For example, for a carbon isotope of 14C, there would be 6 protons but 8 neutrons.