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Question 33

The number of neutrons and electrons, respectively, present in the radioactive isotope of hydrogen is:

We start by recalling that every isotope is written in the form $$\;^{A}_{Z}\text{X}\;$$ where $$A$$ is the mass number (total protons + neutrons) and $$Z$$ is the atomic number (only protons, which equals the number of electrons in a neutral atom).

The radioactive isotope of hydrogen is tritium, written as $$\;^{3}_{1}\text{H}\;$$ because hydrogen has atomic number $$Z=1$$ and tritium has mass number $$A=3$$.

We now apply the formula for neutrons:

Number of neutrons $$=A-Z$$

Substituting $$A=3$$ and $$Z=1$$, we get

$$\text{Neutrons}=3-1=2$$

Since the atom is neutral, the number of electrons equals the atomic number:

$$\text{Electrons}=Z=1$$

So, tritium contains $$2$$ neutrons and $$1$$ electron.

Among the given options, this corresponds to Option C.

Hence, the correct answer is Option C.

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