Section Quick Check
In a neutral atom, the number of electrons
Page 21 • Section 1
1. a bond that results from the electrical attraction
between two oppositely charged atoms or groups
of atoms
2. Proton are positive, neutrons are neutral, and
electrons are negative.
3. A carbon-12 atom is the most abundant form of
carbon. It has six protons and six neutrons in its
nucleus, making it stable. A carbon-14 atom is a
radioactive isotope found in all living things. It
has six protons and eight neutrons in its nucleus,
making it unstable.
4.
equals the number of protons, so there are
8 electrons. The isotope is named by combining
the number of protons and neutrons, so
16 − 8 = 8 neutrons.
5. Salt water is not a compound because a
saltwater solution can be produced by combin-
ing 200 mL water with 2.5 g sodium chloride
and by combining 100 mL water with 5 g sodium
chloride. There is no specific ratio of water to
sodium chloride involved. Also, salt water can
be separated by physical means; evaporating the
water will separate out the sodium chloride.