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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.

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Which isotopes is most useful for dating wood and charcoal?

carbon-14


How is isotape useful?

Isotopes are useful in various fields such as medicine, industry, and environmental science. In medicine, they are used for diagnostic imaging, cancer treatments, and in tracing biological processes. In industry, they are used for quality control and product testing, while in environmental science, isotopes can be used to track migration patterns of animals or pollutants in the environment.


What property of isotopes allows radiotracers to be useful in studying chemical reactions?

The property of isotopes that allows radiotracers to be useful in studying chemical reactions is their ability to emit radiation, which can be detected and tracked. By substituting a stable isotope with a radioactive isotope in a molecule, researchers can track the movement and transformation of the molecule during a chemical reaction by measuring the emitted radiation.


Which property of uranium isotopes makes it useful for measuring events throughout the history of the earth?

The property of uranium isotopes that make them useful for dating events throughout Earth's history is their radioactive nature. Uranium isotopes undergo radioactive decay at a known rate, allowing scientists to measure the amount of decay products in a sample to determine its age. This method, known as uranium-lead dating, is particularly valuable for dating ancient rocks and minerals.


Do isotopes enable scientist to determine th size or age of some rocks?

Isotopes can be used in radiometric dating to determine the age of rocks. By measuring the ratio of parent and daughter isotopes in a rock sample, scientists can calculate how long it has been since the rock formed. This method is particularly useful in dating rocks that are billions of years old.

Related Questions

How do isotopes useful in micro engineering field?

in making machines


Why are isotopes useful in medical field?

because they detect cancer .


Which isotopes is most useful for dating wood and charcoal?

carbon-14


Is plutonium a nonrenewable resource?

On long term, the useful isotopes of plutonium are not renewable.


What are some examples for americium?

For example some useful isotopes: 241Am, 242mAm, 243Am.


How useful is isotopes for dating bones a million years ago?

Just for knowing its origin


What are 2 radioactive isotopes that make them useful?

Two examples are: carbon-14 and cobalt-60.


What are two radioactive isotopes that are useful for dating rocks that are older that 10 million years?

what are two radio active isotopes that are usful for dating rocks that are older than ten million years


How is isotape useful?

Isotopes are useful in various fields such as medicine, industry, and environmental science. In medicine, they are used for diagnostic imaging, cancer treatments, and in tracing biological processes. In industry, they are used for quality control and product testing, while in environmental science, isotopes can be used to track migration patterns of animals or pollutants in the environment.


How are radioactive isotopes useful to researchers?

Radioactive isotopes are used is:- medicine, for treatment by irradiation- medicine, for diagnostic- in science/technology as tracers- as source of energy- as source of ionizing radiations- in many instruments- determination of rocks ageetc.


Why are radioactive isotopes Emit gamma rays useful for treating some forms of cancer?

Gamma rays can destroy malign cells.


What property of isotopes allows radiotracers to be useful in studying chemical reactions?

The property of isotopes that allows radiotracers to be useful in studying chemical reactions is their ability to emit radiation, which can be detected and tracked. By substituting a stable isotope with a radioactive isotope in a molecule, researchers can track the movement and transformation of the molecule during a chemical reaction by measuring the emitted radiation.