Isotope

Isotopes are forms of an element whose nuclei have the same atomic number?-the number of protons in the nucleus--but different atomic masses because they contain different numbers of neutrons.

Related Topics:
Element - Nuclei - Atomic number - Proton - Atomic mass - Neutron

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The word isotope, meaning at the same place, comes from the fact that all isotopes of an element are located at the same place on the periodic table.

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Collectively, the isotopes of the elements form the set of nuclides. A nuclide is a particular type of atomic nucleus, or more generally an agglomeration of protons and neutrons. Strictly speaking, it is more correct to say that an element such as fluorine consists of one stable nuclide rather than that it has one stable isotope.

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In scientific nomenclature, isotopes (nuclides) are specified by the name of the particular element by a hyphen and the number of nucleons (protons and neutrons) in the atomic nucleus (e.g., helium-3, carbon-12, carbon-14, iron-57, uranium-238). In symbolic form, the number of nucleons is denoted as a superscripted prefix to the chemical symbol (e.g., 3He, 12C, 14C, 57Fe, 238U).

Related Topics:
Nomenclature - Carbon-12 - Carbon-14 - Uranium-238 - Chemical symbol

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