How many neutrons does Carbon-14 contain?

To determine the number of neutrons in Carbon-14, it is essential to understand the relationship between an atom's atomic number, mass number, and the number of neutrons. Carbon has an atomic number of 6, which means it has 6 protons in its nucleus. The mass number of Carbon-14 is 14, which represents the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

To calculate the number of neutrons, subtract the atomic number (the number of protons) from the mass number:

Mass number (14) - Atomic number (6) = Number of neutrons

So, 14 - 6 equals 8. Therefore, Carbon-14 contains 8 neutrons.

Understanding this concept is fundamental in nuclear chemistry and helps clarify how isotopes of elements differ in the number of neutrons while retaining the same number of protons.