Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region V SHS
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SORSOGON
CASTILLA CLUSTER

GENERAL CHEMISTRY 1
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NUMBER: 2.1 (Quarter 1)

Common Isotopes and Their Uses

Name of Student: __________________________ Parent’s Signature: ___________

Grade and Section: _______________________________________________________

I. INTRODUCTION:

Dalton had assumed that all atoms of the same element had identical masses.
However, his assumption was incorrect, since atoms of the same element may
contain different numbers of neutrons and therefore have different masses.
(Remember that it is only the number of protons that determines an atom identity)
For example, all atoms of lithium contain three protons; but some atoms of lithium
contain three neutrons, while others contain four neutrons, these two forms of
lithium are called isotopes.
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that contain different numbers of
neutrons and consequently have different atomic masses. Many elements occur in
nature in several different isotopic forms and uses.
Radioactive and stable isotopes alike have many applications in science and
medicine. Let us now describe the use of isotopes in the study of reaction
mechanisms and in dating artifacts.]

II. MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY (MELC):

Recognize Common Isotopes and their Uses. (STEM_GC11AMlc – e – 19)

OBJECTIVES:

➢ Identify some common Isotopes in nature.

➢ Learn some applications of Radioactive Isotopes.

III. ACTIVITIES:

A. ELICIT/ ENGAGE:

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 What can you say about the pictures of LEMONA cars below?

Lemona car comes in different variants, we have LEMONA G, LEMONA GX and

LEMONA GXL but they are all LEMONA cars. They only differ in some
characteristics/features. That’s what an isotope is, of the same element but of
different number of neutrons and atomic masses.

B. EXPLORE:
Exercises 1: Give the isotopes of the following elements:
1. Hydrogen (H)
2. Helium (He)
3. Lithium (Li)
4. Beryllium (Be)
5. Boron (B)
6. Carbon (C)
7. Nitrogen (N)
8. Oxygen (O)
9. Chlorine (Cl)
Exercises II:
a.) Give the uses of the following Radioactive Isotopes:
Medical Diagnostics:
1. 32P

2. 59Fe

3. 60Co

4. 99mTc

Medical Applications:

5. 99mTc*

6. 131I

7. 133Xe

8. 198Au

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 Note: The “m” means that it is a metastable form of this isotope of technetium

b.) Explain how Radioactivity is applied:

1. Study of Photosynthesis
2. Isotopes in Medicine
3. Radioactive Dating
4. Irradiation of Food
5. Wine Radioactivity
6. Radioactivity as Tracers

C. EXPLAIN/ ELABORATE:

Isotopes are atoms of the same element but with different number of neutrons
and atomic masses. Many elements occur in nature in several different isotopic
forms. Hydrogen has two naturally occurring isotopes. Tin has ten naturally
occurring isotopes – more than any other element.

Since the atomic number is always the same for any given element, it may be
omitted when writing the symbol for an isotope. However, the mass numbers of
different isotopes are not the same and must be retained. For example, there are two
isotopes of lithium with 3 and 4 neutrons, respectively. These isotopes may be written
as 36Li and 37Li, or they may be expressed as lithium -6 and lithium -7.

Isotopes, especially radioactive isotopes that are used to trace the path of the
atoms of an element in a chemical or biological process, are called TRACERS.

The half -lives of radioactive isotopes have been used as “atomic clocks” to
determine the ages of certain objects.

D. EVALUATE:
Critical Thinking: (Synthesis)

a.)
The following table gives/shows a listing of isotopes and the number of
protons and neutrons in each isotope.

Element Protons Neutrons

Li 3 4
F 9 10
Ca 20 23
Se 34 43
Ba 56 79
Er 68 94
Re 75 110
Pb 82 126

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 1. Make a graph of the data by plotting the number of protons in each stable
isotope along the x-axis and number of neutrons along the y-axis.
2. Make a best-fit straight line for the x-y coordinates to represent the data.
3. Determine the slope (to one place after the decimal) of the best-fit line (slope
is ∆y/∆x.
4. Describe the slope in words, using the value of the slope and the words stable,
isotope, neutrons, and protons.
5. What statement can you make about the relationship of numbers of protons
to numbers of neutrons in stable isotopes?

b.) answer briefly.

1. Define tracer and give an example of how tracers work.

2. Name two isotopes that have been used in radioactive dating works.
3. The current disintegration rate for carbon-14 is 14.0 Bq. A sample of burnt
wood discovered in an archeological excavation is found to have a carbon-14
disintegration rate of 3.5 Bq. If the half – life of carbon-14 is 5,730 y,
approximately how old is the wood sample?
4. What is the positive aspect of the irradiation of food?
5. Describe how iodine-131 is used to both diagnose and treat thyroid problems.
6. Which radioactive emissions can be used therapeutically?

c.) Uses of Isotopes.

1. Which of the following poses a great hazard; a radioactive isotope with a short
half – life or a radioactive isotope with a long half – life? Explain.
2. Explain how you might use a radioactive tracer to show that ions are not
completely motionless in crystals.

IV. ANSWER KEY:

Exercises I:
1. Hydrogen -1, hydrogen -2
2. Helium -3, Helium -4
3. Lithium -6, Lithium -7
4. Beryllium -9
5. [
6. Carbon -12, Carbon -13
7. Nitrogen -14, Nitrogen -15
8. Oxygen – 16, Oxygen -17, Oxygen -18
9. Chlorine -35, Chlorine -37

Exercises II.
a.)

Medical Diagnostics:

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 1. Cancer detection and treatment, especially in eyes and skin
2. Anemia diagnosis
3. Gamma yay irradiation of tumors
4. Brain, thyroid, liver, bone marrow, lung, heart, and intestinal scanning;
blood volume determination

Medical Applications:

1. Brain, thyroid, liver, bone marrow, lung, heart, and intestinal scanning;
blood volume determination
2. Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid function
3. Lung imaging
4. Liver disease diagnosis
Evaluate b.

1. A tracer is a radioactive isotope that can be detected far from its original
source to trace the path of certain chemicals. Hydrogen-3 can be used to
trace the path of water underground.
2. If the initial amount of a radioactive isotope is known, then by measuring the
amount of the isotope remaining, a person can calculate how old that object
is since it took up the isotope.
3. 11,500 y
4. Increased shelf life (answers will vary)
5. The thyroid gland absorbs most of the iodine, allowing it to be imaged for
diagnostic purposes or preferentially irradiated for treatment purposes.
6. Gamma rays

V. REFERENCE:

Introductory Chemistry – 1st Canadian Edition

https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub
O-CHEMISTRY III by: Gil Nonato S. Santos/Alfonso C. Danac
Chemistry (eight edition) by: Raymond Chang
Essentials of CHEMISTRY worktext

Prepared by:

CYRELL P. NOCIDAL, T III

Cumadcad NHS

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