isotopes
Same protons, different neutrons
Isotopes are variants of a chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei.
This gives them identical chemical properties but different atomic masses.
Some isotopes are stable while others are radioactive, meaning they decay over time and emit radiation.
Carbon-14, for example, is a radioactive isotope used in dating ancient organic materials, while carbon-12 is the stable form.
Scientists use isotopes to track chemical processes in the body.
Hydrogen isotope with neutron
- tritiumHydrogen's radioactive isotope
- carbon-14Radioactive isotope for dating
- uranium-235Fissile nuclear isotope
- uranium-238Predominant uranium isotope
neutrons · protons · nucleus · mass number · atomic mass · nuclide · isobar · element
Gradual organic breakdown
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- alphaFirst Greek letter
- betaGreek alphabet's second letter
gamma · tracers · carbon-14 · uranium-238 · thorium · radon · strontium-90 · plutonium
Decaying carbon isotope
- radiometricMeasuring by radiation
- carbon datingIsotope-based age measurement
- potassium-argonIsotopic age-determination technique
- uranium-leadIsotopic age-determination method
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- fusionJoining into unity
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
- critical massThreshold for self-sustaining reaction
energy · nuclear power · nuclear medicine · radiation therapy · particle accelerator · breeder reactor · heavy water · control rods
Stable carbon isotope
- carbon-13Seven-neutron carbon isotope
- oxygen-16Predominant oxygen isotope
- oxygen-18Heavier oxygen isotope
- nitrogen-15Heavier stable nitrogen isotope
deuterium · helium-3 · helium-4 · nonradioactive · reference standard · primordial
Path-marking projectile
- biomarkerMeasurable biological health signal
- PET scanRadiotracer-based internal imaging
- SPECTGamma-emitting radiotracer imaging method
- provenanceRecord of ownership
deuterium
Hydrogen isotope with neutron
- tritiumHydrogen's radioactive isotope
- carbon-14Radioactive isotope for dating
- uranium-235Fissile nuclear isotope
uranium-238 · neutrons · protons · nucleus · mass number · atomic mass · nuclide · isobar · element · periodic table
decay
Gradual organic breakdown
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- alphaFirst Greek letter
beta · gamma · tracers · carbon-14 · uranium-238 · thorium · radon · strontium-90 · plutonium · radium
radiocarbon
Decaying carbon isotope
- radiometricMeasuring by radiation
- carbon datingIsotope-based age measurement
- potassium-argonIsotopic age-determination technique
fission
Nuclear breakup releasing energy
- fusionJoining into unity
- reactorControlled fission apparatus
- chain reactionSelf-sustaining causal sequence
critical mass · energy · nuclear power · nuclear medicine · radiation therapy · particle accelerator · breeder reactor · heavy water · control rods · fuel rods
carbon-12
Stable carbon isotope
- carbon-13Seven-neutron carbon isotope
- oxygen-16Predominant oxygen isotope
- oxygen-18Heavier oxygen isotope
nitrogen-15 · deuterium · helium-3 · helium-4 · nonradioactive · reference standard · primordial
tracer
Path-marking projectile
- radiobiologyradiobiology, DNA damage, mutations, ionizing radiation, cell damage
- Nuclear Geologyuranium, radium, thorium, radioactivity, uranium deposits
- nuclear reactorsreactor core, control rods, fuel rods, reactor cores, nuclear fuel
- mattermatter, atoms, molecules, atom, molecule
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- discoveriesbreakthrough, scientific discovery, finding, uncovering, detection
- radioactive isotopesUnstable atomic forms emitting particles
- oxygen isotopesNuclear variants of element eight
- isotope geochemistryStudy of atomic variants in nature
- carbon isotopesCarbon atoms differing in neutrons
oxygen isotopes, isotope, isotopic, radioisotope, radioisotopes