Question

How are the isotopes of hydrogen represented?

Answer 1

Isotopes:

The atoms of the same element having the same atomic number but different mass numbers are known as isotopes. i.e. same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Isotopes of hydrogen:

Hydrogen has three isotopes: Protium, Deuterium and Tritium

Protium:

1. It has $1$ proton. Thus, the atomic number is $1$.
2. It has $0$ neutrons. Thus, the mass number is $1$.
3. It is represented as ${}_1{}^1\mathrm{H}$.

Deuterium:

1. It has $1$ proton. Thus, the atomic number is $1$.
2. It has $1$ neutrons. Thus, the mass number is $2$.
3. It is represented as ${}_1{}^2\mathrm{H}$.

Tritium:

1. It has $1$ proton. Thus, the atomic number is $1$.
2. It has $2$ neutrons. Thus, the mass number is $3$.
3. It is represented as ${}_1{}^3\mathrm{H}$.

Thus, the isotopes of Hydrogen are represented as ${}_1{}^1\mathrm{H}$, ${}_1{}^2\mathrm{H}$ and ${}_1{}^3\mathrm{H}$.