Isotones

The history of the atom, as we’ve come across, is full of a lot of misconceptions and assumptions.  Although John Dalton stated in his atomic theory of 1804 that “all atoms of an element are identical”, the discovery of the neutron showed that this assumption was not correct. Then after that discovery, various research began, and finally, isotones were discovered. German physicist K Guggenheimer coined the term Isotone by changing the “p” in “isotope” from “p” for “proton” to “n” for “neutron”.

Before getting into the topic, “Nuclide” is a term that you need to familiarise,

What is a nuclide?

Nuclides are nuclear species of atoms uniquely identified by the number of protons, number of neutrons, and energy content of the nucleus.

Some examples of nuclides are

• Isotopes – nuclides with the same number of protons in their atomic nucleus. (atomic) number, (Z)
•  Isotones – nuclides with the same number of  neutrons in their atomic nucleus, (N)
•  Isobars – nuclides with the same mass number (sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of the given atom), (A)
•  Isomers – nuclides with the same (A)and(Z), but different energy

What Are Isotones?

Isotones are nuclides that have the same number of neutrons and differ in the number of protons, i.e., they would be different elements as a change in protons changes the atomic number. Examples of isotones include Carbon -12, Nitrogen -13 and Oxygen -14. These atoms all have six neutrons and six, seven, and eight protons. Therefore, a mnemonic representing isotones is N (as they have the same number of neutrons).

What is the difference between isotopes and isotones?

The main difference between these two nuclide forms is that some elements whose atoms have the same atomic number that of the element but mass numbers are different (that is, the number of protons remains the same, but the number of neutrons in the atomic nucleus varies) such atoms of elements are called the isotopes of that element. In contrast, Isotones are atoms of different elements having an equal number of neutrons in the atomic nucleus. Therefore, isotones have different atomic numbers (the number of protons in the nucleus is different from each other) and different atomic masses. 

What Is an Isotonic Solution?

The solutions having the same tonicity are known as isotonic solutions. So, the next question arises, what is the definition of tonicity? Tonicity estimates relative solute concentration across a semipermeable membrane, which, therefore, is also a measure of the osmotic pressure gradient across a semipermeable membrane. The tonicity determines the extent and direction of the movement of the solvent across a semipermeable membrane. It is important to note that only the solute that cannot cross the semipermeable membrane is responsible for generating the osmotic pressure gradient. Or it can also be explained as A solution having the same osmotic pressure as a specific body fluid is termed isotonic (meaning of equal tone) with that specific body fluid. 

What are the uses of Isotonic Solutions? 

Isotonic solutions are widely used in medicine as our body shows the property of maintaining constant temperature and pressure, so every fluid taken inside should be isotonic, or this may create severe consequences. 

Oral Rehydration Therapy Isotonic solutions are used in Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT), a treatment for dehydration associated with gastroenteritis. ORT replenishes the body’s lost electrolytes and promotes the uptake of glucose and fluid by the intestinal epithelial cells.

Intravenous Isotonic Solutions 0.9% NaCl solution (isotonic with blood) is sometimes given intravenously in case of intense dehydration. It is used in case of hypernatremia (serum concentration of sodium is high) in individuals who have impaired water excretion. It can also be used as a medium for intravenous administration of drugs.

Conclusion

We can conclude by saying that Isotones are a type of nuclide that is important in nuclear physics and its advancement. With this article, you must have a basic idea of what isotones are and what makes them different from other nuclides. It further expands to the study of the radioactivity of elements. With the chemical properties of an isotope, we can categorise it into various groups. In this article, we also learned about isotonic solutions and their properties. The importance of isotonic solution is more often seen in the medical field in making various pharmaceutical drugs and fluids.