Cobalt is element 27. Cobalt-60 is used in the medical treatment of cancer. How many neutrons and protons are contained in the nucleus of this isotope?
Explanation: Isotopes basically contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. 27 is the atomic number (aka number of protons) 60 is the mass number Mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons So 60=27+x X=60-27 Then you get 33 neutrons
One tip: the number of protons in isotopes never changes because if it changes the entire element changes and becomes another element, so only the number of neutrons change.
