Carbon-12 and carbon-14 are both naturally occurring forms of the element carbon. Which statement correctly describes their relationship?
AThey are different elements because they have different mass numbers
BThey are isotopes because they have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons
CThey are ions because one has gained two extra particles
DThey are allotropes because they are different structural forms of carbon
Explanation
📌 Isotopes are atoms of the SAME element (same proton count, so both are carbon) with DIFFERENT neutron counts. Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons, carbon-14 has 8. Ions differ in electrons. Allotropes (graphite, diamond) are different molecular structures, not different atoms.