Table of Contents
What does an isotope always have a different number of?
Atoms of the same element must have the same number of protons , but they can have different numbers of neutrons . Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes .
Do isotopes have the same number of protons and neutrons?
Atoms of the same element that contain the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons, are known as isotopes. Isotopes of any given element all contain the same number of protons, so they have the same atomic number (for example, the atomic number of helium is always 2).
Do isotopes always have the same number of protons?
Atoms of the same element, containing the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons, are known as isotopes. Isotopes of any given element all contain the same number of protons, so they have the same atomic number (for example, the atomic number of helium is always 2).
Can isotopes have different number of electrons?
Neutral atoms of an element contain an equal number of protons and electrons. The number of neutrons can vary to produce isotopes, which are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. The number of electrons can also be different in atoms of the same element, thus producing ions (charged atoms).
Why is the mass number different in two isotopes?
Basic principles. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons but the same number of protons and electrons. The difference in the number of neutrons between the various isotopes of an element means that the various isotopes have different masses.
Is carbon 13 a radioactive isotope?
By far the most common isotope of carbon is carbon-12 (12C), which contains six neutrons in addition to its six protons. The next heaviest carbon isotope, carbon-13 (13C), has seven neutrons. Unlike 12C and 13C, this isotope is unstable, or radioactive. Over time, a 14C atom will decay into a stable product.
Why do isotopes have a different number of neutrons?
Atoms of the same element have the same number of protons, which is called the atomic number. Different isotopes of an element have different numbers of neutrons. As a result, they also have different mass numbers, which is the number of protons plus the number of neutrons.
How do you identify an isotope?
Isotopes are identified by their mass, which is the total number of protons and neutrons. There are two ways that isotopes are generally written. They both use the mass of the atom where mass = (number of protons) + (number of neutrons).
What are some real life examples of isotopes used?
Radioactive isotopes find uses in agriculture, food industry, pest control, archeology and medicine. Radiocarbon dating, which measures the age of carbon-bearing items, uses a radioactive isotope known as carbon-14. In medicine, gamma rays emitted by radioactive elements are used to detect tumors inside the human body.
Do isotopes have the same atomic mass?
Isotopes are atoms with different atomic masses which have the same atomic number. The atoms of different isotopes are atoms of the same chemical element; they differ in the number of neutrons in the nucleus.