Chemistry / Unit 2 Chem 0221 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Isotope
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The idea
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that share the same number of protons but differ in their number of neutrons.
In practice
Carbon-12 and carbon-14 both carry six protons; they differ only because carbon-14 carries two additional neutrons in its nucleus.
Where people slip
Isotope differences never change chemical identity or ordinary chemical behavior — only ion formation, covered next, changes that.
Your place on the trail
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