Isotopes: Atoms with the Same Atomic Number but Different Neutrons

What are isotopes?

Isotopes are:

a) Unstable atoms

b) Radioactive

c) Isotopes

d) Ions

Final answer: Isotopes

Answer:

Isotopes are atoms with the same atomic number but different number of neutrons, resulting in different atomic masses.

Atoms with the same atomic number but different number of neutrons are called isotopes. Isotopes have the same number of protons and electrons, but vary in the number of neutrons. This variation in the number of neutrons results in different atomic masses for isotopes of the same element.

Isotopes play a significant role in various fields, including medicine, environmental science, geology, and chemistry. They are commonly used in radiometric dating, nuclear medicine, and tracing the origin of elements. Understanding isotopes is crucial for a variety of scientific applications.

It is important to distinguish between isotopes, radioactive atoms, and ions. Isotopes refer to variations of the same element based on the number of neutrons. Radioactive atoms are unstable isotopes that undergo decay, releasing radiation. Ions are atoms or molecules with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of electrons.