Task: Using the PHET simulator, for each element (H to Ne), add and remove all the neutrons

available for each element to make all possible isotopes.

For each isotope:

● add it to the table

● highlight in green if the isotope is stable
● highlight in blue if it is unstable.

The first one (Hydrogen) has been done for you.

Number of neutrons

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1 H 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H 1 H

2 He

3 Li
Number of Protons

4 Be

5 B

6 C

7 N

8 O

9 F

10 Ne

Answer the following:

What makes an isotope unstable?

What patterns can you see in the table?

What happens to an isotope that is unstable?

How common is an unstable isotope in nature?