Isotopes (Gr. Isos - Equal, Topos - Place)

Isotopes are varieties of the same chemical element that have the same atomic number (same number of protons in the nucleus and electrons in orbits) but different atomic weights (different number of neutrons in the nucleus).

The chemical properties of isotopes of the same element are practically the same, since they are determined by the number of electrons in the outer electron layer of the atom. However, the physical properties of isotopes, such as density, heat capacity, rate of chemical reactions, etc., can vary significantly due to differences in atomic masses.

The presence of isotopes is explained by the possibility of the existence of nuclei with different numbers of neutrons with the same number of protons. Nuclei with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes.

Isotopes are widely used in science and technology - in geology to determine the age of minerals, in medicine to diagnose and treat diseases, in industry to measure the thickness and density of materials, etc. Thus, isotopes are an important tool in many fields.