What is an isotope and Give any three applications of isotopes
Isotopes:
Isotopes are atoms of the same element having the same atomic number but different mass numbers.
Isotopes can also be defined as the variants of chemical elements that possess the same number of protons and electrons, but a different number of neutrons.
The chemical properties of all the isotopes of an element are the same.
For Ex: Isotopes of Hydrogen are 1H1,1H2,1H3
Application of Isotopes
1) An isotope of Uranium (i.e. Uranium-235) is used as a fuel in a nuclear reactor.
2) An isotope of cobalt (i.e. cobalt-60) is used in the treatment of cancer.
3) An isotope of iodine (i.e. iodine-131) is used in the treatment of goiter.
4) An isotope of carbon (i.e.carbon-14) is used in the carbon dating technique (through which the age of fossils can be determined)