True or false The number of neutrons always equals the number of protons?

False. The number of electrons always equals the number of protons for an element and this is called the atomic number of an element. The number of neutrons in an element depends on other factors and varies by element and the same element can have different versions with a different number of neutrons. Each version is called an isotopes. The sum of the protons and neutrons in an atom is called the atomic weight.

Hydrogen has three isotopes with 0, 1, or 2 neutrons, with atomic weights 1,2, 3). Isotopes with 1 or 2 neutrons are extremely rare.

Carbon has four isotopes. It can have 5, 6, 7, or 8 neutrons (atomic weights 11, 12, 13, 14). We commonly refer to different isotopes by its name and weight as in carbon-11, carbon-12, carbon-13, carbon-14. Carbon-12 is common and everywhere. the others are very rare. Carbon-11 and carbon-14 are considered unstable and tend to brake down into other elements over a period of time releasing energy as it happens. This is called radioactivity.