Isotopes

Isotopes

from the Greek word

isos and topos which
means “the same
place”

Fredrick Soddy
Isotopes

are atoms of the same

element that have the same
number of protons but
different in the number of
neutrons
Isotopes

for example: the most common

Oxygen isotope has 8 neutrons
inside the nucleus, but other
isotopes have 9 or 10 neutrons
Isotopes

are needed for research,

commerce, medical
diagnostics and treatment,
and national security
Types of Isotopes

1. Stable Isotopes
2. Unstable Isotopes
Stable Isotopes

❑ are non-radioactive forms

of atoms
❑ naturally occurring stable
isotopes are used to trace
origin, history, and etc.
Unstable Isotopes

❑ also known as radioactive

isotopes
❑ contains surplus energy
which they give off in the
form of radiation.
 Radioactive Decay

the emission of energy in the form of ionizing

radiation
involves the spontaneous transformation of one
element into another
The only way that this can happen is by changing the
number of protons in the nucleus (an element is
defined by its number of protons).
There are number of ways that this can happen and
when it does, the atom is forever changed
Isotopes
 Isotopes of Oxygen

to identify a specific isotope of an element,

write the name of the element followed by a
hyphen and the mass number of the isotope
Ex.
➢ Oxygen- 16 for the isotope with mass # of 16
➢ Oxygen- 17for the isotope with mass # of 17
➢ Oxygen- 18for the isotope with mass # of 18
Common Isotopes
and their uses
 Isotope Applications/Uses
Carbon dating of organisms and
Carbon- 14 substances
Radiation therapy to prevent
Cobalt- 60 cancer
Iodine- 131 Help treat thyroid cancer
Locate brain tumors and
damaged heart cells,
Technetium- 99
radiotracer in medical
diagnostics
 Isotope Applications/Uses
Thallium- Determine damage in heart tissue,
201 detection of tumors
Uranium- Determine the age of sediments
238 from marine environments
Nuclear power plant fuel and nuclear
Uranium-
reactors that run naval ships and
235 submarines.
Tagged onto glucose to monitor
Carbon- 11 organs during a positron emission
 Isotope Facts
✓ All elements have isotopes.
✓ There are two main types of isotopes: stable and unstable
(radioactive).
✓ There are 254 known stable isotopes.
✓ All artificial (lab-made) isotopes are unstable and therefore
radioactive; scientists call them radioisotopes.
✓ Some elements can only exist in an unstable form (for
example, uranium).
✓ Hydrogen is the only element whose isotopes have unique
names: Deuterium for hydrogen with one neutron and
Tritium for hydrogen with two neutrons.
 Write your answer on your answer
sheet.
1. What do these isotopes of carbon all have in
common?

A. Neutrons and mass number

B. Atomic number and neutrons
C. Atomic number and protons
D. Protons, atomic number, and mass number
2. Complete the following sentence: “Different isotopes of the
same element have...’
a. ...the same number of protons, but differing number of
neutrons and electrons
b. ...the same number of neutrons, but differing numbers of
protons and electrons
c. ...the same number of protons and neutrons, but differing
number of electrons
d. ...the same number of protons and electrons, but differing
number of neutrons
3. In the isotope carbon-14, what does the
number 14 represent?
a. total charge c. number of electrons
b. mass of the atom d. atomic number
4. What is the name given to the element
hydrogen when it has no
neutrons?
a. protium c. deuterium
b. tritium d. this isotope does not exist
5. This isotope is used as nuclear power plant fuel
and nuclear reactors that run naval ships and
submarines.
a. uranium-235 c. uranium-234
b. uranium-238 d. all of these