Question

An atom is almost always comprised of protons, neutrons, and electrons. All atoms of an element have the same number of __________; however, they can have differing numbers of _________ and _________. Elements can have various isotopes – atoms that have a distinct number of ________. These atoms can also be positively or negatively charged (these charged atoms being referred to as "ions"), as the number of ________ decreases or increases.

A. Electrons; Protons, Neutrons; Isotopes; Electrons
B. Protons; Electrons, Neutrons; Isotopes; Electrons
C. Neutrons; Protons, Electrons; Isotopes; Electrons
D. Electrons; Neutrons, Protons; Ions; Electrons

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. All atoms of an element have the same number of protons; however, they can have differing numbers of electrons and neutrons. Isotopes are atoms with different numbers of neutrons, and ions have altered numbers of electrons resulting in a charge.

Step-by-step explanation:

An atom is almost always comprised of protons, neutrons, and electrons. All atoms of an element have the same number of protons; however, they can have differing numbers of neutrons and electrons. Elements can have various isotopes—atoms that have a distinct number of neutrons. These atoms can also be positively or negatively charged (these charged atoms being referred to as "ions"), as the number of electrons decreases or increases. Therefore, the correct answer is B. Protons; Electrons, Neutrons; Neutrons; Electrons.

Key Takeaways include understanding that the atomic number is determined by the number of protons in an atom's nucleus. Isotopes of an element differ in the number of neutrons they contain, but all isotopes of an element have the same atomic number because they have the same number of protons. Changes in the number of electrons result in ions, which carry a charge and are crucial in many biological processes. Elements are represented by their atomic symbol.