An atom contains 8 protons, 8 neutrons and 8 electrons. A second atom contains 8 protons, 10 neutrons and 10 electrons. What can be said about these two
atoms?
A. Both atoms are neutral
B. The atoms are isotopes of each other
C. Both atoms are ions
D. These atoms cannot exist in nature

B. Isotopes mean having differing number of neutrons but having the same amount of protons basically.

Explanation:

B. The atoms are isotopes of each other

Given

The first atom : 8 protons, 8 neutrons and 8 electrons

The second atom : 8 protons, 10 neutrons and 10 electrons

Required

Comparison

Solution

A. Atom is said to be neutral if the number of protons and electrons is the same

The first atom neutral

The second atom - anion : charge = -2(10 electron-8 proton)

B. isotopes = the same atomic number and different mass number

The first atom : atomic number = 8, mass number = 16

The second atom neutral : atomic number = 8, mass number = 18

Both : isotopes

C. First atom = neutral, second atom anion (charge = -2)

D. Can exist in nature

gas

explanation:

smoke is the matter of a gas