Isotope
Okay, kiddo, do you know what atoms are? They are tiny building blocks that make up everything around us; like the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even the toys we play with. Now, these atoms are made up of even smaller particles, called protons, electrons, and neutrons.
An isotope is a type of atom that has the same number of protons in its nucleus but has a different number of neutrons. Think of it like a team of players where all players are wearing the same colored jersey, but some of them have different numbers.
For example, let's say we have a normal carbon atom. It has six protons and six neutrons. We call this carbon-12 because it has a total of 12 particles in its nucleus. Now, what if we have another carbon atom that has the same six protons but has eight neutrons? This would be carbon-14, with a total of 14 particles in its nucleus.
Isotopes of the same element (like carbon-12 and carbon-14) have similar chemical properties, but their physical properties may be different. For instance, some isotopes may be radioactive, meaning they emit energy and particles over time, which can be harmful to living things.
Scientists use isotopes in lots of ways, from helping us learn about the history of the Earth to diagnosing diseases in medicine. So, isotopes might be small, but they sure are important!
An isotope is a type of atom that has the same number of protons in its nucleus but has a different number of neutrons. Think of it like a team of players where all players are wearing the same colored jersey, but some of them have different numbers.
For example, let's say we have a normal carbon atom. It has six protons and six neutrons. We call this carbon-12 because it has a total of 12 particles in its nucleus. Now, what if we have another carbon atom that has the same six protons but has eight neutrons? This would be carbon-14, with a total of 14 particles in its nucleus.
Isotopes of the same element (like carbon-12 and carbon-14) have similar chemical properties, but their physical properties may be different. For instance, some isotopes may be radioactive, meaning they emit energy and particles over time, which can be harmful to living things.
Scientists use isotopes in lots of ways, from helping us learn about the history of the Earth to diagnosing diseases in medicine. So, isotopes might be small, but they sure are important!
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