Isotopes
Isotopes are variants of a chemical element that differ in neutron number. They play a crucial role in various scientific fields, including chemistry, physics, and geology. Understanding isotopes enables scientists to unravel processes such as radioactive decay, nuclear reactions, and the formation of elements in stars. Isotopes also find applications in radiometric dating, medical imaging, and tracing biological processes. This fundamental concept bridges disciplines, offering insights into the behavior of atoms and the composition of matter across diverse contexts.
Questions
- Boron exists in two isotopes, boron-10 and boron-11. Based on the atomic mass, which isotope should be more abundant?
- Isotopes differ due to the number of what?
- What is a radioactive element?
- Why do all isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties?
- What do isotopes of the same element have differing numbers of?
- How are isotopes of elements formed?
- Why don't any of the isotopes of natural iron have the atomic mass of 55.85 amu, if the number listed in the periodic table is 55.85 amu?
- What is the nuclear symbol for the isotope of gallium, #Ga#, that contains 40 neutrons per atom?
- Isotope differ in the number of which particle?
- Isotopes are considered stable when the strong overcomes the electrostatic repulsion between force positively charged what?
- How do you calculate the atomic mass of bromine?
- The atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of what?
- What defines the mass number of an isotope?
- Why carbon-12 is an isotope of carbon?
- Why do you think isotopes of #N# are used in medicine as opposed to other elements with stable isotopes like boron, neon or sodium?
- What is the difference between an isotope and an element?
- Explain why atoms have different isotopes. In other words, how is it that helium can exist in three different forms?
- How would we represent the formation of carbon dioxide with DIFFERENT carbon isotopes?
- Gallium has two naturally occurring isotopes. The mass of gallium-69 is 68.9256 amu and it is 60.108% abundant. The mass of gallium-71 is 70.9247 amu and it is 39.892% abundant. What is the atomic mass of gallium?
- Do different atomic numbers, #Z#, specify different elements? How are isotopes differentiated?