Chapter 20, Problem 1E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The meaning of an isotope is to be stated.

Concept introduction:

Atoms of the same elements that have the same number of protons but have different masses and a different number of neutrons are called isotopes. Isotopes are variants of particular chemical elements. A specific kind of isotope has a specific kind of nuclear composition.

Answer to Problem 1E

The atoms of the elements having the same number of protons and a different number of neutrons are called isotopes.

Explanation of Solution

Isotopes are the atoms of the same elements that have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons. For example, there are three isotopes of hydrogen which are protium $\left({}_1{\text{H}}^1\right)$, deuterium $\left({}_1{\text{H}}^2\right)$, and tritium $\left({}_1{\text{H}}^3\right)$. The number of protons in each isotope is same that is one but the number of neutrons is different for all the isotopes of hydrogen due to different atomic masses.

Conclusion

An isotope is a specific kind of atom of an element that has same number of protons but different number of neutrons.