Isotopes

atoms of a given element that

differ in the number of neutrons
…and consequently in mass.
Working with Atomic Notation

A
z X Chemical Symbol

Atomic Mass
(of Isotope)
Atomic Number
 Example #1

12
6 C Chemical Symbol

Atomic Mass
(of Isotope)
Atomic Number
 Example #2

13
6 C Chemical Symbol

Atomic Mass
(of Isotope)
Atomic Number
 Example #3

14
6 C Chemical Symbol

Atomic Mass
(of Isotope)
Atomic Number
Some isotopes of carbon

12
6 C
13
6 C 6 C
14
 10 47

Ne
Neon
Ag
Silver

20.1797 107.8682

3 11

Li
Lithium
Na
Sodium

6.941 22.98977
Various ways of identifying
Isotopes
• Using atomic notation,
Example: 126 C or simply 12 C

•Using the mass notation.

Example: Carbon-12 or C-12
(read “carbon twelve” or “C twelve”)
 Some Isotopes of Carbon
mass atomic # of p+ # of e- # of no
notation notation
C-11 C
11
6 6

C-12 C
12
6 6

C-13 C
13
6 6

C-14 C
14
6 6
 Another example of isotopes
1
H
1
2
1 H 3
1 H
or

H-1 H-2 H-3

 The Isotopes of Hydrogen
mass atomic # of p+ # of e- # of no
notation notation
Hydrogen-1 1
H 1 1

Hydrogen-2 2
H 1 1

Hydrogen-3 3
H 1 1
 Figure #1 Figure #2 Figure #3

p+ = p+ = p+ =
no = no = no =
e- = e- = e- =
 Isotopes
atoms of a given element that
differ in the number of neutrons
…and consequently in mass.
 Why are masses on the periodic
table usually expressed as decimal
numbers?

• masses on the table are weighted

averages of all known isotopes of
the element of interest
 Keep in mind:
It is not possible to determine how many
different isotopes exist by looking at the
periodic table.
It is not possible to determine the
frequency of various nuclides by looking
at the periodic table.
The following does not occur in nature!
1
1 H occurrence 33.3%
2
1 H occurrence 33.3%
3
1 H occurrence 33.3%
The following does occur in nature!

1
1 H occurrence 99.98%
2
1 H occurrence 0.0156%
3
1 H occurrence 0.0044%
 another way of looking at it:

Imagine having 10,000 H atoms

1H occurrence 9,998
1

2
1 H occurrence 1.56
3
1 H occurrence 0.44
That means the weighted average is:
1
1 H 1 x 0.9998 = 0.9998

2
1 H 2 x 0.00156 = 0.00312

3
1 H 3 x 0.00004 = 0.00012
Weighted Average (0.9998 + 0.00312 + 0.00012)  1.01
Zn has 5 naturally occurring isotopes
64
30 Zn occurrence
66
30 Zn occurrence
67
30 Zn occurrence
68
30 Zn occurrence
70
30 Zn occurrence
Zn has 5 naturally occurring isotopes
64
30 Zn occurrence 49 %
66
30 Zn occurrence ~28 %
67
30 Zn occurrence ~4 %
68
30 Zn occurrence ~18 %
70
30 Zn occurrence ~1 %
Zn has 5 naturally occurring isotopes
64
30 Zn 49 %
66
30 Zn ~28 %
67
30Zn ~4 % 65.39
68
30 Zn ~18 %
70
30 Zn ~1 %
 (parenthesis) on the
Periodic Table indicate the
most stable isotope
stable means “longest living”
Parenthesis also suggest the element of
interest is radioactive.
 Review problem #1
Represent the following using atomic notation.

92

U
Uranium

238.0289
 Review problem #2
Represent the following using mass notation.

10

NeNeon

20.1797
 Review problem #3
If the atom described below had 2 naturally occurring
isotopes, which of the 2 would have a greater
frequency of occurrence? Express your answer in
atomic and mass notation.

Li
Lithium

6.941
 Review problem #4
How many total subatomic particles are in the following
“neutral” atoms of Fe-55 and Fe-57?