Biology

What is the average atomic mass of carbon?

12.0107 ± 0.0008 u

How many electrons are in one atom of carbon?

6 electrons

How many protons are in the nucleus of one carbon atom?

6 protons

What is the symbol for the element carbon?

C

The mass number of an isotope is the number of protons + the number of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of the isotope. C-12 atoms have a mass number of 12. C-13 atoms have a mass number of 13. C-14 atoms have a mass number of 14. Based on carbon having an average atomic mass of 12.011, what do you think the most common isotope of carbon might be?

C-12. There is more C-12 than any other isotope of carbon making the average atomic mass very close to 12 at 12.011.