Final answer:
Carbon-12 has a mass number of 12 with 6 protons and 6 neutrons, giving it an atomic number of 6. Carbon-13 has a mass number of 13 with 6 protons and 7 neutrons, maintaining the same atomic number of 6. Both isotopes are neutral and stable, with carbon-12 being the most common.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mass number and atomic number of carbon-12 and carbon-13 are important for understanding these isotopes of carbon. The mass number of carbon-12 is 12, which accounts for its 6 protons and 6 neutrons, giving it an atomic number of 6. On the other hand, carbon-13 has a mass number of 13, due to its 6 protons and 7 neutrons, but its atomic number remains the same at 6 since the atomic number is determined by the number of protons which does not change for different isotopes of the same element. Both these isotopes have six electrons in a neutral state which balances out the positive charge of the protons.
Carbon-12 is the most common and stable isotope with six protons, six neutrons, and no net charge. Carbon-13 is also stable but slightly less common. Understanding the composition of carbon-12 and carbon-13 leads to a better grasp of carbon's role in chemistry and various scientific applications, including radiocarbon dating.