How are isotopes named?
1 Answer
Oct 31, 2015
Chemical symbol + new mass
Explanation:
Isotopes are same element with different masses due to the change in the number of their neutrons.
Naming isotopes is simple - just get the element's symbol/name then add the new mass.
example:
Carbon-12 (C-12) = 6 protons + 6 neutrons
Carbon-13 (C-13) = 6 protons + 7 neutrons
Carbon-14 (C-14) = 6 protons + 8 neutrons
Uranium-238 (U-238) = 92 protons + 146 neutrons
Uranium-235 (U-235) = 92 protons + 143 neutrons
Uranium-234 (U-234) = 92 protons + 142 neutrons
