Table of Contents
atomic-number-and-mass-number-isotopes-and-isobars
An isotope is an atom of a chemical element with a particular number of neutrons in its nucleus. For example, chlorine-35 is an isotope of chlorine. Its nucleus has 17 protons and 18 neutrons.
A mass number is the number of protons and neutrons in a nucleus. The mass number of a chlorine-35 atom is 35.
An isobar is an atom of a chemical element with the same number of protons in its nucleus. For example, chlorine-35 and chlorine-37 are isobars. They have the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons.
What is the Atomic Number of an Element?
The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of that element.
What is the Mass Number of Elements?
The mass number of an element is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of that element.
Isotopes and Isobars
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. For example, carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14 are all isotopes of carbon.
Isobars are atoms of different elements that have the same number of protons. For example, nitrogen-14 and oxygen-18 are both isobars.
What are Isotopes?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus.
What are Isobars?
Isobars are lines on a weather map connecting points of equal air pressure.
