In science, we did a lab that would help us understand isotopes. We were given an element such as carbon-14. The atomic number of carbon-14 is 6. All the atomic number is is the number of protons in an atom. We had to use beads and a paper plate to make a model of an atom. I took 6 red beads and put them in th center of the plate. I then took 6 black beads and put them around the edges of the plate. The 14 in carbon-14 is the atomic mass or the total number of protons and neutrons. Since we already know the number of protons, we just have to subtract that number from 14. 14-6=8 so there are going to be 8 white beads in the center of the plate also.
Hydrogen Isotopes (Above)