9 Chemistry

Structure of an atom :
Isotopes and Isobars
 Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, Students are able to,

• Define Isotope, Radio-isotope and isobars.

• Distinguish between isotope and isobar.

• List out the elements which are isotopes and isobars from

the periodic table

• Analyze the importance of radio-isotopes in daily life.

Pre requisite :
Symbols

Drawing Atomic
atomic number
structure

Atomic
structure

Electronic
Mass
configuration number

Representati
on of an
atom
 Isotopes :

• The different atoms of the element having same atomic number but different
mass numbers are called isotopes.

• The difference in the mass numbers of the isotopes is because of the

difference in the number of neutrons present.

• The chemical properties of isotopes are similar but their physical properties
are different.
Examples :
 Average atomic masses of the elements :

• In case of elements which exist as isotopes, an average of their

atomic masses has to be taken.
• This is possible only if we know the relative proportions in which
the different isotopes exist.
• Example Cl -35 and Cl -37

Average atomic masses of chlorine = ( 35 x 75 ) + ( 37 x 25 )

100 100
= 35.5 u
 Applications of Radio-isotopes:

• Radio isotope of carbon ( C-14) is used to determine the age of old

specimens of wood and animals which have died long back. This
technique is known as carbon dating.
 Radio – Iodine :
• An isotope of iodine is used in the treatment of goitre.
 Uranium -235
• An isotope of uranium is used as a fuel in
nuclear reactors.
Radio - active elements in daily life :
 Isobars :
• Atoms of different elements with different atomic numbers, which
have the same mass number, are known as Isobars.

• Isobars have different physical and chemical properties.

• Example :
Write differences between Isotopes and Isobars:

Isotopes Isobars
Questionnaire :
• Write the electronic configuration of any pair of isotopes and
isobars
• If the element bromine exist in the form two isotopes which are
79 Br ( 49.5%) and (50.3%) , then calculate the average atomic mass
35
of bromine.
• Give reason
• Isotopes of an element is always chemically similar.
• Isobars are not chemically similar.