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Unstable isotopes can spontaneously undergo changes, transforming them into other isotopes of the same or of different elements. Stable isotopes do not. Some isotopes are very unstable and exist for less than a second; others can exist for billions of years but still be unstable. Many elements consist of more than one isotope. One or more of these isotopes may be unstable.

In isotopes of an element, the nucleus contains different numbers of neutrons while the number of protons remains the same and determines how the atom behaves chemically. There are several types of instability (too few neutrons, too many neutrons) and several types of decay.

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13y ago
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6mo ago

Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons, leading to variations in Atomic Mass. Stable atoms have a balanced ratio of protons and neutrons, making them less likely to undergo radioactive decay. Isotopes may be stable or unstable depending on their specific composition.

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12y ago

They decay to another isotope

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Q: How are isotopes different from stable atoms?
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What is the meaninq of two isotopes stable and unstable isotopes?

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons, and therefore different masses. Unstable isotopes are radioactive and undergo radioactive decay of their nuclei, while stable isotopes do not undergo radioactive decay.


Isotopes of elements?

Isotopes of elements are atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This causes isotopes of the same element to have different atomic masses. Isotopes can be stable or unstable, with unstable isotopes undergoing radioactive decay.


Can isotopes have positive and negative charges?

Isotopes are just the different possible nuclear weights of each element. Some are stable; some are unstable and radioactive. Since all atoms are isotopes and all isotopes are atoms, Isotopes can - and do - form ions, consequently they can have positive and negative charges.


Which of these atoms are isotopes 144Ce 144Nd 144Sm 145Nd?

144Nd and 145Nd are isotopes because they have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons. Ce and Sm are different elements, so they are not isotopes of Nd.


What are atoms of the same element that have different neutron numbers called?

Every atom of the same element is also categorized by its number of neutrons. An atom with a certain number of neutrons is an "isotope." Two atoms of the same element (same quantity of protons) can be different isotopes (different quantity of neutrons). Some isotopes are unstable, so most stable isotopes of an element are withing a range of a few numbers. For example, stable isotopes of carbon are Carbon-12 and Carbon-13.


What is the name for atoms of an element that have different masses?

Isotopes are atoms of an element that have different masses due to a different number of neutrons in their nuclei.


What isotopes are atoms of the same elements with different number of?

Isotopes are atoms of the same elements with different number of neutrons.


Do all lithium atoms have the same mass?

No. There are different isotopes of lithium which have different numbers of neutrons and thus different masses. There are two stable isotopes of lithium: Lithium-6 with 3 neutrons and Lithium-7 with 4 neutrons.


Do all atoms of the same element have the same number of isotopes?

No, atoms of the same element can have different numbers of isotopes. Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in variations in their atomic mass.


How are isotopes different from state atoms?

The atoms of a chemical element can exist in different types. These are called isotopes. They have the same number of protons (and electrons), but different numbers of neutrons. Different isotopes of the same element have different masses.


Where can isotopes be found?

elements are isotopes, when different atoms of the same element have different number of neutrons


Is mixtures or isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons?

Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons. Mixtures, on the other hand, are combinations of different substances that are physically mixed together, but not chemically bonded.