isotope definition | Dictionary.com

i⋅so⋅tope

[ahy-suh-tohp]

–noun Chemistry.

any of two or more forms of a chemical element, having the same number of protons in the nucleus, or the same atomic number, but having different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus, or different atomic weights. There are 275 isotopes of the 81 stable elements, in addition to over 800 radioactive isotopes, and every element has known isotopic forms. Isotopes of a single element possess almost identical properties.

Origin:
1910–15; iso- + -tope < Gk tópos place

Related forms:

i⋅so⋅top⋅ic [ahy-suh-top-ik]

, adjective

i⋅so⋅top⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To isotope

i·so·tope (ī'sə-tōp')

n. One of two or more atoms having the same atomic number but different mass numbers.

[iso- + Greek topos, place (so called because the isotopes of a chemical element occupy the same position in the periodic table of elements).]
i'so·top'ic (-tŏp'ĭk) adj., i'so·top'i·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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isotope [(eye-suh-tohp)]

In physics, different forms of the same element, with nuclei that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Isotopes are distinguished from each other by giving the combined number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. For example, uranium 235 is the isotope of uranium that has 235 protons and neutrons in its nucleus rather than the more commonly occurring 238. All elements have isotopes.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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isotope

1913, introduced by British chemist Frederick Soddy (1877-1956) on suggestion of Margaret Todd, from Gk. isos "equal" + topos "place;" so called because despite the different atomic weights, the various forms of an element occupy the same place on the periodic table.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: iso·tope
Pronunciation: 'I-s&-"tOp
Function: noun
1 : any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the sameatomic number and position in the periodic table and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties
2 : NUCLIDE —iso·to·pic /"I-s&-'täp-ik, -'tO-pik/ adjective —iso·to·pi·cal·ly /-'täp-i-k(&-)lE, -'tO-pi-/ adverb —iso·to·py /'I-s&-"tO-pE,I-'sät-&-pE/ noun plural -pies

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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isotope i·so·tope (ī'sə-tōp')
n.
One of two or more atoms having the same atomic number but different mass numbers.

i'so·top'ic (-tŏp'ĭk) adj.

isotope (ī'sə-tōp') Pronunciation Key
One of two or more atoms that have the same atomic number (the same number of protons) but a different number of neutrons. Carbon 12, the most common form of carbon, has six protons and six neutrons, whereas carbon 14 has six protons and eight neutrons. Isotopes of a given element typically behave alike chemically. With the exception of hydrogen, elements found on Earth generally have the same number of protons and neutrons; heavier and lighter isotopes (with more or fewer neutrons) are often unstable and undergo radioactive decay.

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