Isotopes

The phrase isotope has been derived from Greek words “isos” and “topos” which further translated to the word “the equal place”. So, the concept behind the use of this word is that isotope variations of a single element are determined in the identical position at the periodic table. The nucleus is made from only protons and neutrons, and the electrons revolve across the nucleus. Atomic mass may be described as the sum of some protons and the number of neutrons. Moreover, the atomic number is identical to the number of protons. The number of protons is constantly equal in an element; however, the number of neutrons maintains on changing.

Isotopes are atoms, in which the quantity of neutrons differs from each other, and the quantity of protons stays the same. From the definition of atomic mass and the atomic number, that is given above, we can now understand that isotopes are the elements which have a similar atomic number with different mass numbers.

Isotopes

Isotopes may be described as the variations of chemical elements that own the identical number of protons and electrons, however a different number of neutrons. In other words, isotopes are variations of elements that vary in their nucleon numbers because of a difference in the overall number of neutrons of their respective nuclei. For example, carbon-14, carbon-13, and carbon-12 are all isotopes of carbon. Carbon-14 includes a complete of 8 neutrons, carbon-13 includes a complete of 7 neutrons, and carbon-12 includes a complete of 6 neutrons.

Number of Neutrons in an Isotopes

The overall number of neutrons within the nucleus of an isotope may be determined via means of subtracting the atomic number of the element from the mass number of the isotope. For example, the 12-C isotope of carbon has a mass number of 12. The atomic number of carbons is 6. Therefore, the overall number of neutrons within the carbon-12 isotope is equal to 6.

Physical and chemical properties of Isotopes

When we discuss the chemical properties of isotopes of a given element they’re nearly identical or same. Different isotopes showcase almost the same chemical characteristics. However, in terms of physical properties of isotopes like the mass, melting or boiling point, density, and the freezing point all of them are different.

The physical properties of any isotope usually depend upon the mass of every isotope. Knowing the differences allows us to differentiate between one isotope from another.

Types of Isotopes

There are three types of isotopes. They are stable isotopes, primordial isotopes, and radioactive isotopes

Radioactive isotopes: Some isotopes have volatile atomic nuclei that go through radioactive decay. These isotopes are radioactive in nature and are, therefore, referred to as radioisotopes (or radionuclides). Examples of radioactive isotopes consist of carbon-14, tritium (hydrogen-3), chlorine-36, uranium-235, and uranium-238.

Stable isotopes: Some isotopes are regarded to have extraordinarily lengthy half-lives (within the order of hundreds of millions of years). Such isotopes are typically called stable nuclides or strong isotopes. Common examples of stable nuclides consist of carbon-12, carbon-13, oxygen-16, oxygen-17, and oxygen-18.

Primordial isotopes: Primordial nuclides are the nuclides which have existed for the reason that formation of the sun system. Of the 339 evidently happening isotopes on Earth, a complete 286 isotopes are recognized to be primordial isotopes.

Comparison between Isotopes and Isobars

An isotope is a variant of an element that possesses the equal atomic number however a different mass number. A group of isotopes of any element will continually have the equal number of protons and electrons. They will vary in the number of neutrons held via way of means of their respective nuclei. An example of a group of isotopes is hydrogen-1 (protium), hydrogen-2 (deuterium), and hydrogen-3 (tritium).

On the other hand, isobars are chemical species which have the same quantity of nucleons however different atomic numbers. Groups of isobars will vary within the atomic number, the number of protons, the number of electrons, and the number of neutrons. However, they’ll usually have the same number of nucleons. Therefore, the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons will usually be identical in a group of isobars. An example of a group of isobars is chlorine-40, argon-40, sulfur-40, calcium-40, and potassium-40.

Isotopes have the identical atomic numbers however different mass numbers while isobars have the identical mass numbers however different atomic numbers.

Uses of Isotopes

1. Uses of Isotopes in Medicine

• Gamma-rays which are emitted from cobalt-60 may be utilised in radiotherapy for most cancers treatment
• Superficial cancers like skin cancer are handled through less penetrating radiation from the strontium-90 or phosphorus-32
• A heart pacemaker that contains plutonium-238 may be used to adjust the patients’ heartbeats with heart problems
• Iodine-131 also can be used in thyroid sickness treatment
• Carbon-14 is used to estimate the bone’s age, fossils, or timber through measuring the fraction of carbon-14 that it contains

3. Isotope Uses in Agriculture

• The phosphate and metabolism uptake of phosphorus through plants is studied through the use of a phosphate fertilizer that contains phosphorus-32
• Furthermore, the radioactive tracer research through the use of carbon-14 has helped recognize protein synthesis and photosynthesis

3. Isotope Uses in the Industrial Sector

• Sodium-24 is used to trace the gas or oil pipe leaks and ventilating systems
• Radiation from krypton-85 is used to maintain the plastic sheet thickness within the industry
• Cobalt-60’s gamma rays are handed via meals to damage the bacteria, which causes meals to damage without changing the flavor, quality, or texture of the meals

Conclusion

The isotope of an element may be described as one of the numerous variants of the specific chemical element which holds the equal number of protons and electrons as the atomic number of the element however holds a different number of neutrons while as compared to the other variants (isotopes) of the element.  Alternately, isotopes may be described as variants of elements that vary in their nucleon numbers because of a difference in the overall number of neutrons of their respective nuclei.

An important application of isotopes is within the determination of the isotopic signature of element samples through isotope analysis. This is typically carried out through the method of isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The mechanism of a chemical response may be determined with the help of isotopic substitution. The change within the reaction rate can be measured based on the kinetic isotope effect. Isotopes also can be used to determine the attention of many elements/materials through isotope dilution.