4.1.9

Isotopes

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Isotopes

Atoms of the same element always have the same number of protons (or have the same atomic number). However, atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons. We call these different isotopes. Hydrogen has 3 different isotopes:

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Protium

  • Protium is a hydrogen atom with 1 proton and 0 neutrons.
  • 99.98% of hydrogen atoms are protium.
  • It is used in hydrogen fuel cells and the production of plastics.
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Deuterium

  • Deuterium is a hydrogen atom with 1 proton and 1 neutron.
  • Around 0.02% of hydrogen atoms are deuterium.
  • It is used in nuclear fusion.
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Tritium

  • Tritium is a hydrogen atom with 1 proton and 2 neutrons.
  • It is very rare.
  • It is used in thermonuclear fusion weapons.

Isotopes

Two atoms with the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons are said to be isotopes.

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Isotopes

  • Isotopes are forms of an element that have the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons.
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Nuclides

  • A nuclide is a type of isotope.
  • A nuclide refers to a specific nucleus that contains a certain number of protons and neutrons.
  • A carbon nuclide with 6 protons and 6 neutrons is different to a carbon nuclide with 6 protons and 7 neutrons. However, both are isotopes of carbon.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

5.1Basics of Motion

5.2Forces

5.3Effects of Forces

5.4Pressure

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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