Composition of the nuclei of two atomic species X and Y are given as under X Y Protons = 6 6 Neutrons = 6 8 Give the mass numbers of X and Y. What is the relation between the two species?

Mass number of X = Number of protons + Number of neutrons

= 6 + 6

= 12

Mass number of Y = Number of protons + Number of neutrons

= 6 + 8

= 14

These two atomic species X and Y have the same atomic number, but different mass numbers. Hence, they are isotopes.