Carbon has isotopes with mass numbers 12, 13 and 14. Complete the sentences. Choose answers from the box.\n\n[electrons, ions, molecules, neutrons, protons]\n\nThe isotopes of carbon have the same number of ______.\nThe isotopes of carbon have a different number of ______.

Isotopes are defined as atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.\n- **Same number of protons:** Because they are all atoms of carbon, they must all have 6 protons. The number of protons determines the element.\n- **Different number of neutrons:** The different mass numbers (12, 13, 14) are due to the varying number of neutrons in the nucleus. Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons, Carbon-13 has 7 neutrons, and Carbon-14 has 8 neutrons.