Atoms of the same element (same Z) but different neutron counts (different A). All isotopes of an element have (nearly) identical chemistry but may differ in stability, abundance, and nuclear properties. Example: ¹H (protium), ²H…
Isotope
Related concepts
- Atomic number (Z)
- Mass number (A)
- Radiometric dating
- Radioisotope tracer method
- Nuclear transmutation
- N(t) = N₀·exp(−λt); t_{1/2} = ln 2 / λ (universal isotope clock)
- R/R₀ = f^{α−1}: at f=1 ⇒ 1; at α=1 ⇒ 1 (no-fractionation limits)
- Mass-dependent fractionation line δ¹⁷O = 0.52·δ¹⁸O (TFL anchor)
- R_mix = f·R_A + (1−f)·R_B: linear 2-component isotope mixing
- Δ¹⁷O = δ¹⁷O − 0.52·δ¹⁸O; zero on TFL (mass-dependent samples)
- R_mix at f=0 ⇒ R_B, f=1 ⇒ R_A, f=1/2 ⇒ (R_A+R_B)/2