What is an Isotope? Give an Example of an Isotope.
Answer – Isotopes are two or more atoms that have the same atomic number but differ in their mass numbers. Examples of an isotope are Oxygen 16, Oxygen 17, and Oxygen 18.
Explanation:
Isotopes are variations of elements that contain the same number of protons but have different numbers of neutrons. This gives them different mass numbers while they possess the same atomic numbers. While they’re similar in their chemical properties, their physical properties are different. Nearly all chemical elements on the periodic table have one or more isotopes that are either stable or unstable. Stable isotopes are those that show no tendency to change spontaneously when no external action is applied. The unstable ones, on the other hand, tend to decay radioactively over time. These are referred to as radioisotopes. A few additional examples are:
- Carbon 12, Carbon 13, and Carbon 14
- Nitrogen 14 and Nitrogen 15
- Silicon 28, Silicon 29, and Silicon 30
Examples of radioactive isotopes include:
- Uranium 232
- Technetium 123
- Cesium 137
- Carbon 14
