How are isotopes useful?

Answer 1

Yes - they have many applications. One isotope of an element can be very stable and have one set of uses while another is unstable (radioactive) and have a completely different set of applications. Let me give 3 examples:

1. 1 proton is hydrogen. 1 p and 1 n is an isotope of hydrogen that is called deuterium (note, only hydrogen isotopes have their own names). Deuterium is widely used in "deuterated" compounds because how it interacts with a magnetic field is different than hydrogen. A 3rd isotope of hydrogen is called tritium - it is radioactive and in very low quantities in water.

2. Tc is a transition metal but not found in the earths crust. It is made in a reactor. Tc-99 (Technetium) is used in different types of nuclear medicine. Tc-98 or Tc-100 would not work for the same applications.

3. Uranium has a number of isotopes. Two of the most well known are U-25 and U-238. They different by 3 neutrons (all uranium has 92 protons). U-235 is very radioactive and is used in bombs and nuclear power plants. U-238 is more stable and is used in the tips of missiles that pierce armor. Uranium is very dense.

Remember - isotopes (i.e. H, D, T) all have the same number of protons but different number of neutrons - and the number of neutrons impacts nuclear stability.

Answer 2

Isotopes are useful in many ways, such as smoke detecters and food irradiation. Radioactive material is found is found in a lot of places, such as hydrogen-3 in luminous watches and dials and carbon-14 in archeological dating.

Answer 3

They are used to Study living organisms, Diagnose and treat diseases, Sterilized food, measuring age of rocks, to trace chemical reactions, damage or kill living things.