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What are isotopes? What? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ - Junior Cycle Science - Question (c) - 2011
Question (c)
What are isotopes? What? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
Worked Solution & Example Answer:What are isotopes? What? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ - Junior Cycle Science - Question (c) - 2011
Step 1
What are isotopes?
Answer
Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that share the same atomic number but have different mass numbers. This means that isotopes have the same number of protons in their nuclei, which defines them as the same element, but they differ in the number of neutrons.
Step 2
What?
Answer
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Isotopes have the same atomic number and, therefore, the same number of protons, which classifies them as the same element.
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However, isotopes possess different mass numbers because they differ in their number of neutrons. This results in isotopes having different physical properties and behaviors.
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The existence of isotopes is important in various scientific fields, including chemistry, physics, and medicine, providing insights into atomic structure and aiding in applications like carbon dating and medical imaging.