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?

Question

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?
27 neutrons, 33 protons

33 neutrons, 33 protons

33 neutrons, 27 protons

27 neutrons, 27 protons

Answer 1

The number of protons is the element number, in this case 27.  

 

The 60 in Cobalt-60 represents the sum of the neutrons and protons.  

 

So there are 33 neutrons and 27 protons in Cobalt-60.