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The atomic number is unchanged.

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Q: When an unstable isotope breaks down but doesn't change to another element the atomic number always?
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When a unstable isotope decays the daughter isotope that result is always a stable isotope true or false?

False. When an unstable isotope decays, the resulting daughter isotope may or may not be stable. Some daughter isotopes are stable, while others may still be radioactive and undergo further decay.


Is the decay of unstable isotopes always the same process?

Yes, for the specified isotope; but the process is statistic.


When an unstable isotope decays the daughter isotope that results is always a stable isotope true or false?

Technically the answer is false, however the answer most tests accept as the correct answer is True.According to Nuclear theory when a parent undergoes decay and produces a daughter isotope the daughter may be stable or it may be unstable and further decay until a final stable granddaughter isotope is formed. This process is called a decay chain, however since eventually a stable isotope is formed the acceptable answer is True, even though technically it is not the case.


What do you call a heavier version of an atom of the same element?

You call it an isotope. And it isn't always heavier; it can be lighter, too. An isotope is an atom of a certain element with a different number of neutrons. It usually has a lot of the same physical and chemical properties of the parent element, but it will have a different atomic mass because of the different neutron count. Many isotopes are radioactive, and therefore unstable, since they undergo decay over a certain period of time. Isotopes make possible radiocarbon dating and smoke detectors, so they're quite useful.


What is mass number of an isotope?

The mass number of an element is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus, and this always determines the element in the Periodic Table. Different isotopes of the same element have differing numbers of neutrons in the nucleus, but always the same number of protons.

Related questions

When a unstable isotope decays the daughter isotope that result is always a stable isotope true or false?

False. When an unstable isotope decays, the resulting daughter isotope may or may not be stable. Some daughter isotopes are stable, while others may still be radioactive and undergo further decay.


Is the decay of unstable isotopes always the same process?

Yes, for the specified isotope; but the process is statistic.


How do you find the atomic number of an isotope?

The atomic number of an isotope is the same as the element it belongs to. You can find the atomic number of an isotope by identifying the element it is a part of on the periodic table.


How do you find the isotopes of an atom?

The atomic number of an isotope is always identical to every other isotope, otherwise, it would form a separate element.


What percentage of an atom's mass is the nucleus?

The precise figure varies from element to element and isotope to isotope depending on the number of neutrons in the nucleus, however it is always at least 99.95% which is the ratio between an electron and a proton.


When an unstable isotope decays the daughter isotope that results is always a stable isotope true or false?

Technically the answer is false, however the answer most tests accept as the correct answer is True.According to Nuclear theory when a parent undergoes decay and produces a daughter isotope the daughter may be stable or it may be unstable and further decay until a final stable granddaughter isotope is formed. This process is called a decay chain, however since eventually a stable isotope is formed the acceptable answer is True, even though technically it is not the case.


What do you call a heavier version of an atom of the same element?

You call it an isotope. And it isn't always heavier; it can be lighter, too. An isotope is an atom of a certain element with a different number of neutrons. It usually has a lot of the same physical and chemical properties of the parent element, but it will have a different atomic mass because of the different neutron count. Many isotopes are radioactive, and therefore unstable, since they undergo decay over a certain period of time. Isotopes make possible radiocarbon dating and smoke detectors, so they're quite useful.


Can you have a different number of neutrons and still have the same element?

yes you can have a different number of neutrons and have an isotope of the same element.number of protons for a element always stays the same.


What is mass number of an isotope?

The mass number of an element is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus, and this always determines the element in the Periodic Table. Different isotopes of the same element have differing numbers of neutrons in the nucleus, but always the same number of protons.


When an atom undergoes radioactive decay when does it become a completely different element?

An atom changes into a different element during radioactive decay when it emits a particle that changes the number of protons in its nucleus. This process can result in the creation of a new element with a different atomic number.


How is the isotope different from an element?

An element is defined by the number of protons in the nucleus; for example, carbon always has 6 protons. Elements can also have different numbers of neutrons in the atomic nucleus, and each number of neutrons gives you a different isotope. So, there is the isotope called carbon 12, with 6 neutrons (12 nuclear particles in total) and there is also the isotope called carbon 14, with 8 neutrons (14 nuclear particles in total). Every element has a number of isotopes.


When does Uranium-235 become unstable?

Uranium 235 is unstable because it is a radioactive isotope. This means that it is constantly decaying and emitting radiation. The reason it is unstable is because it has too many neutrons in its nucleus. The neutron is a unstable particle, and when there are too many of them in one place, they can cause problems. When uranium 235 decays, it emits alpha particles, which are high-energy particles that can damage DNA and cause cancer.