Isotopes: Basics
- Isotopes are atoms of the same element that contain the same number of protons and electrons but a different number of neutrons
- The symbol for an isotope is the chemical symbol (or word) followed by a dash and then the mass number
- Eg. carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon containing 6 and 8 neutrons
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- Eg. carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon containing 6 and 8 neutrons
The atomic structure and symbols of the three isotopes of hydrogen
Isotopes: Chemical & Physical Properties
- Isotopes have similar chemical properties but different physical properties
Chemical properties
- Isotopes of the same element display the same chemical characteristics
- This is because they have the same number of electrons in their outer shells
- Electrons take part in chemical reactions and therefore determine the chemistry of an atom
Physical properties
- The only difference between isotopes is the number of neutrons
- Since these are neutral subatomic particles, they only add mass to the atom
- As a result of this, isotopes have different physical properties such as small differences in their mass and density