What is an isotope? What are Isotopes?

What are Isotopes?

Isotopes are atoms of the identical aspect which have a distinct variety of neutrons of their nucleus. Because of this isotopes of the identical aspect have the identical variety of protons and electrons however completely different numbers of neutrons. Isotopes are recognized by the mass quantity, which is the overall variety of protons and neutrons within the nucleus. For instance, one isotope of carbon is carbon-12, which has six protons and 6 neutrons, whereas one other isotope of carbon is carbon-14, which has six protons and eight neutrons. “Isotopes differ from each other based on their mass quantity” (Bentley, 2020). Isotopes are discovered naturally within the surroundings and happen in numerous ratios. For instance, probably the most ample isotope of carbon is carbon-12. Nonetheless, the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 is comparatively low, making it helpful for radiocarbon relationship. Isotopes will also be produced by synthetic means in a course of often called isotope separation (Mazur, 2020). Isotopes are utilized in quite a lot of methods, akin to in medical imaging, nuclear energy, and nuclear weapons. Cont…