Isotopes

Isotopes: Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different atomic masses.

• Stable and Unstable Isotopes:

  • Stable isotopes do not undergo radioactive decay, whereas unstable isotopes (radioisotopes) emit radiation as they decay into other elements.

• Applications:

  • Used in medical imaging (e.g., PET scans), carbon dating for archaeological finds, and as tracers in biochemical research.

• Notable Examples:

  • Carbon-12 (stable) and Carbon-14 (unstable). The former is used in organic compounds, while the latter is used in dating ancient organic materials.