An atom has a mass of 16 and 6 protons. What element is it, and how many neutrons are there?

Rationale

Carbon with 6 protons has 10 neutrons when its mass is 16.

The element in question is carbon, as indicated by its atomic number of 6 protons. To find the number of neutrons, we subtract the number of protons from the mass number, yielding 10 neutrons (16 - 6 = 10).

A (Sulfur, 10) YOUR ANSWER

Sulfur has an atomic number of 16, which means it has 16 protons, not 6. Although the neutron count of 10 aligns with this option, the incorrect proton count disqualifies sulfur as the element in question.

B (Sulfur, 22) YOUR ANSWER

This choice incorrectly identifies the element as sulfur, which has 16 protons. The mass number of 22 would imply that there are 6 neutrons (22 - 16 = 6), but this is not relevant since the atomic number does not match the given data.

C (Carbon, 10) CORRECT

This is the correct choice because carbon has 6 protons, and the mass of 16 indicates that it has 10 neutrons (16 - 6 = 10). This aligns perfectly with the element identified and the neutron calculation.

D (Carbon, 22) YOUR ANSWER

While carbon does have 6 protons, a mass number of 22 implies there would be 16 neutrons (22 - 6 = 16), which does not match the given mass of 16. Therefore, this choice is incorrect due to the discrepancy in neutron count.

Conclusion

The atom described in the question is carbon, with its defining characteristic being the presence of 6 protons. The calculation of neutrons confirms there are 10 neutrons when the mass number is 16. Other options incorrectly identify the element or miscalculate the neutrons, reinforcing the importance of accurate atomic number and mass number interpretation in elemental identification.

An atom has a mass of 16 and 6 protons. What element is it, and how many neutrons are there?

Carbon with 6 protons has 10 neutrons when its mass is 16.

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