What are 3 things isotopes of an element have in common?
(i) Each isotope has the same number of nuclear protons, i.e. where the proton is a massive, fundamental nuclear particle with a unit positive charge. The number of protons gives Z, the atomic number, whose number determines the identity of the element: Z=1, the element is hydrogen, Z=2, the element is helium; Z=3, the element is lithium;........Z=25, the element is manganese.
(ii) If the species are neutral, the isotope has the same number of electrons as nuclear protons; i.e. Z, the atomic number≡number of electrons.
(iii) And if it is the same isotope, each nucleus contains the same number of neutrons, where the neutron is a massive, fundamental particle of zero charge. The number of protons and neutrons gives the identity of the isotope.
There are three common isotopes of hydrogen: protium,1H;deuterium,2H,andtritium,3H. Given that you know Z for hydrogen, how many neutrons does each isotope contain?
All of this is fairly straightforward (well I think so!). If you can digest this, you will get easy marks on an A-level examination. You don't have to remember Z, but you do have to remember what Z and mass number mean.
nuclear protons, i.e. where the proton is a massive, fundamental nuclear particle with a unit positive charge. The number of protons gives Z, the atomic number, whose number determines the identity of the element: Z=1, the element is hydrogen, Z=2, the element is helium; Z=3, the element is lithium;........Z=25, the element is manganese.
(ii) If the species are neutral, the isotope has the same number of electrons as nuclear protons; i.e. Z, the atomic number≡number of electrons.
(iii) And if it is the same isotope, each nucleus contains the same number of neutrons, where the neutron is a massive, fundamental particle of zero charge. The number of protons and neutrons gives the identity of the isotope.
There are three common isotopes of hydrogen: protium,1H;deuterium,2H,andtritium,3H. Given that you know Z for hydrogen, how many neutrons does each isotope contain?
All of this is fairly straightforward (well I think so!). If you can digest this, you will get easy marks on an A-level examination. You don't have to remember Z, but you do have to remember what Z and mass number mean.
