An isotope is defined as what?

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Study for the Georgia High School Physical Science Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, detailed hints and explanations included. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

An isotope is defined as what?

Explanation:
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. An element is defined by its number of protons, so the identity remains the same, but changing the neutrons changes the mass of the nucleus and can affect stability. For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are both carbon because they have the same number of protons, but carbon-12 has six neutrons while carbon-14 has eight. The other ideas don’t fit because a different element would require a different number of protons, identical protons and neutrons would be the exact same atom, and a different energy level refers to electrons, not the nucleus.

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. An element is defined by its number of protons, so the identity remains the same, but changing the neutrons changes the mass of the nucleus and can affect stability. For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are both carbon because they have the same number of protons, but carbon-12 has six neutrons while carbon-14 has eight. The other ideas don’t fit because a different element would require a different number of protons, identical protons and neutrons would be the exact same atom, and a different energy level refers to electrons, not the nucleus.

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