Question

Which of the following elements shows the maximum number of stable isotopes?

• A. $H$
• B. $O$
• C. $Sn$
• D. $S$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

$Sn$

Hydrogen (${}_{1}H$) has three naturally occurring isotopes, sometimes denoted ${}^{1}H{,}^{2}H,and{}^{3}H$.

The first two of these are stable while ${}^{3}H$ has a half-life of $12.32$ years.

There are $3$ known stable isotopes of oxygen ${(}_{8}O){:}^{16}O{,}^{17}O,and{}^{18}O$.

Sulphur(${}_{16}S$) have only $4$ stable isotopes: ${}^{32}S{,}^{33}S{,}^{34}S,and{}^{36}S$.

Tin (${}_{50}Sn$) is the element with the greatest number of stable isotopes (ten; three of them are potentially radioactive but have not been observed to decay).