Isotopes and their Isotopes and their ImportanceImportance

Isotopes are atoms with the same Isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons but with different number of protons but with different numbers of neutrons.numbers of neutrons.

Isotopes can also be defined as Isotopes can also be defined as atoms of the same element with the atoms of the same element with the same proton number but with different same proton number but with different nucleon number. nucleon number.

Three important points to define isotopes :Three important points to define isotopes :

1. Isotopes are different atoms of the 1. Isotopes are different atoms of the

same element.same element.

2. Isotopes have the same number of 2. Isotopes have the same number of

protons. ( this is because they are of the protons. ( this is because they are of the

same element ) same element )

3. Isotopes have different numbers of 3. Isotopes have different numbers of

neutrons or nucleon numbers. neutrons or nucleon numbers.

Since isotopes are of the same element, Since isotopes are of the same element, they must have the same number of they must have the same number of electrons and the same electron electrons and the same electron arrangement.arrangement.

Therefore, isotopes of the same element Therefore, isotopes of the same element must have the same must have the same chemical properties chemical properties and form compounds with the same and form compounds with the same formula. formula.

Isotopes of the same element have slightly Isotopes of the same element have slightly different physical properties. different physical properties.

For example, the three hydrogen isotopes For example, the three hydrogen isotopes have slightly different boiling points. have slightly different boiling points.

ElementElement NameName Nucleon Nucleon NumberNumber

Proton Proton numbernumber

Number of Number of neutronneutron

HydrogenHydrogen

HydrogenHydrogen 11 11 00

DeuteriumDeuterium 22 11 11

TritiumTritium 33 11 22

Isotopes can be divided into radioactive Isotopes can be divided into radioactive isotopes and non-radioactive isotopes.isotopes and non-radioactive isotopes.

- the stable isotopes (non-radioactive)- the stable isotopes (non-radioactive)

- the non-stable isotopes (radioactive).- the non-stable isotopes (radioactive).

Unstable isotopes go through radioactive Unstable isotopes go through radioactive decay and emit radiation and they are decay and emit radiation and they are known as radioisotopes.known as radioisotopes.

Radioisotopes have many applications in Radioisotopes have many applications in daily life.daily life.

Several uses of radioisotopes in Several uses of radioisotopes in daily life are shown as below :daily life are shown as below :

Medicine : Medicine :

cobalt-60 is used to kill cancer cells cobalt-60 is used to kill cancer cells without surgery in patients. This treatment without surgery in patients. This treatment is known as radiotherapy.is known as radiotherapy.

Food :Food :Gamma rays of cobalt-60 are used to Gamma rays of cobalt-60 are used to destroy bacteria in food without changing destroy bacteria in food without changing the quality of food.the quality of food.

Agriculture :Agriculture :Radio isotopes are used to cause mutation Radio isotopes are used to cause mutation in insects so as to make them sterile or to in insects so as to make them sterile or to cause death. These serve as pest controls cause death. These serve as pest controls in agriculture.in agriculture.

Proper care must be taken when using Proper care must be taken when using and handling radioactive isotopes to and handling radioactive isotopes to prevent accidents and leakages.prevent accidents and leakages.

This is bacause the radioactive isotopes This is bacause the radioactive isotopes can be very dangerous and can destroy can be very dangerous and can destroy the whole world if it is misused.the whole world if it is misused.