What is the meaning of the term isotopes?

Answer 1

An isotope is a form of an element. Isotopes (forms of an element) occur when an atom/s of a single chemical element gains or loses 1 or more neutrons.

Eg.. the first isotope "Hydrogen-1" or "Protium" hydrogen has 1 proton in the centre of the atom or nucleus, and 1 electron going around on the outside, isotope two "Hydrogen-2" or "Deuterium" Hydrogen, has 1 proton AND 1 neutron in the nucleus and 1 electron, and isotope three is "Tritium" Hydrogen that has 1 proton, 2 neutrons and 1 electron. The number of protons always stays the same, it's the number of neutrons that determines the form of an element or in other words the isotope.

Answer 2

An isotope can be thought of as a subtype of an element. All atoms of an element have the same number of protons - that's what mainly determines their chemical properties. Atoms which have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons are said to be different isotopes of the same element.

Answer 3

Isotopes are atoms with same number protons but different neutrons number.

Answer 4

Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons. This results in variations in Atomic Mass among isotopes of the same element.

Answer 5

same atomic no but different atomic mass.