Celebrating the Wonders of Atoms: Exploring Isotopes

What are atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers called?

a. protons
b. isotopes
c. ions
d. nucleotides

Final answer:Isotopes

Answer:

Atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers are called isotopes; they have the same electron configuration and therefore identical chemical properties, but vary in their atomic mass.

Atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers are called isotopes. Isotopes have the same number of protons (and thus the same atomic number) but differing numbers of neutrons. The atomic number (Z) represents the number of protons in the nucleus, while the mass number (A) is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons.

Isotopes of an element have identical chemical properties because they have the same electron configuration, although they have different atomic masses due to the variation in the number of neutrons.

Isotopes play a crucial role in a wide range of scientific disciplines and practical applications. In medicine, isotopes are used in imaging techniques like PET scans to diagnose diseases and monitor treatment. In environmental science, isotopes help researchers track the movement of water and pollutants in the environment. Additionally, isotopes are utilized in archaeology to date artifacts and study ancient civilizations.

Isotopes are also valuable in industry and agriculture. They are used in radiometric dating of geological samples to determine the age of rocks and minerals. Isotopic analysis is essential in tracing the origin of materials and monitoring industrial processes. In agriculture, isotopic techniques are applied to study soil fertility, nutrient uptake by crops, and the effectiveness of fertilizers.

With advancements in isotope research and technology, scientists continue to discover new applications for isotopes in various fields. Isotope geochemistry, nuclear medicine, and isotopic labeling in biological research are just a few areas where isotopes play a significant role.

Overall, isotopes are fascinating entities that provide valuable insights into the world of atoms and their behavior. Celebrating the diversity of isotopes enhances our understanding of chemistry, physics, and the natural world.