Difference between revisions of "Isotope"
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| − | '''Isotope''' is a term that refers to the different individual atomic masses that a particular element exhibits. For example, the element carbon most stably occurs in nature as carbon-12, indicating an atomic mass of 12. However, an common unstable isotope, carbon-14, popularly used by scientist to date artifacts, has an atomic mass of 14. Unstable isotopes are known as [[radioactive isotope]]s, and decay over time to more stable isotopes. | + | '''Isotope''' is a term that refers to the different individual atomic masses that a particular element exhibits. The masses can be different due to the number of neutrons that the nucleus contains. For example, the element carbon most stably occurs in nature as carbon-12, which contains 6 neutrons, indicating an atomic mass of 12 (6 protons and 6 neutrons). However, an common unstable isotope, carbon-14, which contains 8 neutrons and is popularly used by scientist to date artifacts, has an atomic mass of 14 (6 protons and 8 neutrons). Unstable isotopes are known as [[radioactive isotope]]s, and decay over time to more stable isotopes. |
[[category:physics]] | [[category:physics]] | ||
Revision as of 03:37, June 30, 2008
Isotope is a term that refers to the different individual atomic masses that a particular element exhibits. The masses can be different due to the number of neutrons that the nucleus contains. For example, the element carbon most stably occurs in nature as carbon-12, which contains 6 neutrons, indicating an atomic mass of 12 (6 protons and 6 neutrons). However, an common unstable isotope, carbon-14, which contains 8 neutrons and is popularly used by scientist to date artifacts, has an atomic mass of 14 (6 protons and 8 neutrons). Unstable isotopes are known as radioactive isotopes, and decay over time to more stable isotopes.