Question

Nuclides with the same number of neutrons are called:

• A. Isobars
• B. Isotones
• C. Isotopes
• D. Isomers

Hint:

Memory trick:

Iso\textbf{topes} → same pro\textbf{tons}
Iso\textbf{tones} → same neu\textbf{trons}
Iso\textbf{bars} → same mass num\textbf{ber}

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To solve the given question, we need to understand the definitions of the terms provided in the options: Isobars, Isotones, Isotopes, and Isomers.

1. Isobars: Nuclides with the same mass number (A) but different atomic numbers (Z). This implies they have different numbers of protons and differing numbers of neutrons.
2. Isotones: Nuclides with the same number of neutrons (N) but different numbers of protons. This satisfies the condition given in the question.
3. Isotopes: Nuclides with the same atomic number (Z), hence the same number of protons, but different mass numbers due to different numbers of neutrons.
4. Isomers: Compounds or nuclides with the same formula or nuclide composition but differing in energy states or configurations, typically relevant in chemistry rather than nuclear physics.

Hence, the correct answer is that nuclides with the same number of neutrons are called Isotones.

Let's verify the incorrect options based on the definitions:

• Isobars are incorrect because they relate to the same mass number, not the neutron count.
• Isotopes are incorrect because they share the same proton count, not neutrons.
• Isomers are incorrect as they pertain to energy states or configurations, not neutron count.

Therefore, the final conclusion is that the nuclides with the same number of neutrons are termed as Isotones.

Answer 2

These four "iso-" terms are often confused because they sound alike, but each one is anchored to a different one of the three numbers that describe a nucleus: proton number (Z), neutron number (N), or mass number (A, the sum of the two). Matching the question to the right anchor number solves it directly.

The question specifies nuclides that share the same neutron number. Among the nuclear terms, the one built around neutron number specifically is isotones, note the "N" hidden inside "isotoNes," a useful anchor: isotoNes share Neutrons.

By contrast, isotopes are anchored to proton number (isotoPes share Protons, since same protons means same element), isobars are anchored to total mass number (same A, regardless of the proton-neutron split), and isomers aren't about differing composition at all, they're the exact same nucleus (same Z and same N) sitting in different internal energy states.

Since the question is asking specifically about the neutron-anchored term, none of the proton-anchored, mass-anchored, or energy-state-anchored terms fit.

Therefore, the correct answer is Isotones.