1. From the following statements,
   A. Hydrogen, Deuterium and Tritium differ in the number of protons
   B. Hydrogen, Deuterium and Tritium differ in the number of neutrons
   C. Both Deuterium and Tritium are radioactive and decay to Hydrogen and Deuterium, respectively.
   D. Tritium is radioactive and decays to Helium
   E. Carbon-14 decays to Nitrogen-14
   F. Carbon-14 decays to Carbon-13

Pick the combination with ALL correct statements
(1) A. B and F                                           (2) B, D and E
(3) A, C and D                                           (4) C, E and F

Understanding Isotopes: Hydrogen, Deuterium, Tritium, and Carbon-14 Decay

What Are Isotopes?

Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. They may exhibit different physical and chemical properties, particularly in radioactive behavior.

Differences Among Hydrogen, Deuterium, and Tritium

The Composition of Hydrogen Isotopes

Hydrogen exists in three isotopic forms:

• Hydrogen (Protium): Contains 1 proton and 0 neutrons.
• Deuterium: Contains 1 proton and 1 neutron.
• Tritium: Contains 1 proton and 2 neutrons.

Do Hydrogen, Deuterium, and Tritium Differ in Protons?

One of the given statements suggests that “Hydrogen, Deuterium, and Tritium differ in the number of protons.” However, this is incorrect. All three isotopes have the same number of protons (1) but differ in neutrons. Therefore, statement A is incorrect, and statement B is correct.

Radioactive Properties of Deuterium and Tritium

Is Deuterium Radioactive?

Deuterium is a stable isotope and does not decay. Hence, the statement that both Deuterium and Tritium are radioactive is incorrect. Statement C is incorrect.

Tritium Decay

Tritium is radioactive and undergoes beta decay, transforming into Helium-3. This confirms that statement D is correct.

Carbon-14 Decay

Does Carbon-14 Decay to Carbon-13?

Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon. It undergoes beta decay and converts into Nitrogen-14 rather than Carbon-13. Statement F is incorrect, and statement E is correct.

Correct Combination of Statements

The correct combination of scientifically accurate statements is:

(2) B, D, and E

• B: Hydrogen, Deuterium, and Tritium differ in the number of neutrons.
• D: Tritium is radioactive and decays to Helium.
• E: Carbon-14 decays to Nitrogen-14.

Understanding isotopes and their behavior is essential for applications in nuclear science, medical imaging, and radiocarbon dating.