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    Home » What is an isotope?

    What is an isotope?

    March 16, 2022 By Emma Vanstone Leave a Comment

    Isotopes are different forms of the same element. Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons and electrons but a different number of neutrons.

    This means they have the same atomic number ( number of protons ) but a different mass number ( number of protons and neutrons ).

    Paper Plate Isotope Models

    These very simple paper plate models show the difference between Carbon-13 and Carbon -12. There is also a Carbon-14 which is radioactive as the extra 2 neutrons make it unstable.

    Paper plate atomic models on Carbon 12 and Carbon 13 showing a different number of neutrons for Carbon 13.Paper plates have rings drawn on to show the orbits of electrons and different coloured pom poms are used to illustrate electrons, protons and neutrons.

    Remember – elements always have the same atomic number ( number of protons ) but the mass number ( number of protons and neutrons ) can be different.

    How to write the name of an isotope in two ways

    Examples of Isotopes

    Isotopes of Hydrogen

    Hydrogen -1

    Hydrogen-2

    Hydrogen-3

    The most common form of hydrogen is Protium. Protium has no neutrons.

    Deuterium has 1 neutron and Tritium has 2 neutrons.

    Tritium is radioactive.

    Isotopes of hydrogen showing different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus

    Facts about isotopes

    Tin has the most stable isotopes of any element.

    The mass of an isotope is the number of protons plus the number of neutrons.

    Hydrogen is the only element whose isotopes have their own names!

    Cesium and Xenon have the most naturally occurring isotopes with 36 each!

    Unstable isotopes are radioactive.

    Last Updated on March 16, 2022 by Emma Vanstone

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