Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

What do you mean by isotopes and isotones? Give examples.

seo-qna
SearchIcon
Answer
VerifiedVerified
422.1k+ views
Hint: Isotopes are 2 compounds having the same atomic number but different mass number.

Complete answer:
In an isotope, one among two or more species of atoms of a substance which have the identical number and position within the table have nearly identical chemical behaviour, but have different physical properties and atomic masses. Every element has one or more isotopes.
Isotopes can either form spontaneously (naturally) if the nucleus goes into disintegration (i.e., emission of energy within the variety of beta particles, alpha particles, photons, and neutrons). They are also created artificially by bombing a stable nucleus with charged particles via accelerators or neutrons in exceedingly nuclear reactors.
Radioisotopes are accustomed diagnose and treat many medical conditions and diseases, including cancer and thyroid disorders. Thyroid conditions are diagnosed and treated using radioactive iodine, which concentrates within the thyroid. Radioactive phosphorus is used in bone scans, and potassium is used in muscle imaging.
Isotopes of a component all have the identical chemical behavior, but the unstable isotopes undergo spontaneous decay during which they emit radiation and achieve a stable state. This property of radioisotopes is beneficial in food preservation, archaeological dating of artifacts and diagnosis and treatment.
The number of nucleons (both protons and neutrons) within the nucleus is that the atom's nucleon number, and every isotope of a given element contains a different nucleon number. We can say that carbon-13, carbon-14, and carbon-12 are three isotopes of the same element, carbon that have mass numbers 13, 14, and 12 respectively.
Compounds with the same neutron number and different proton numbers are called isotones. Example boron and carbon both have 7 neutrons.

Note:
Breathing in radioisotopes may damage DNA. Radioactive isotopes can be present in the stomach and cause radiation for a long time. High doses of radioisotopes may lead to mutations or sterility. Radiation can also burn skin or may cause cancer.