Question

What are different forms of the same elements with different numbers of neutrons?

Answer 1

As we know that all atoms of the same element have the same number of protons but some may or may not have same numbers of neutrons. So the atoms of the same element that differ in their numbers of neutrons but have the same number of protons are known as isotopes.

Complete answer:
We know that all atoms of the same element have the same number of protons but can have different numbers of neutrons. Let us take an example as follows:-
All carbon atoms have six protons and also most have six neutrons as well, but some carbon atoms may have seven or eight neutrons instead of the general six count. So atoms of the same element that differ in their numbers of neutrons are called isotopes. The proper definition of isotopes is given below:-
Isotopes: These are specifically the atoms of the same element that generally differ in their numbers of neutrons but have the same number of protons. Many isotopes occur naturally and generally one or two isotopes of an element are the most common and stable in this nature. Usually different isotopes of an element have the same physical and chemical properties because they have the same count of protons and electrons.
Therefore, from the above data we conclude that “isotopes” are different forms of the same elements with different numbers of neutrons.

Note:
Remember important information that atoms are required to have a certain ratio of neutrons to protons so as to have a stable nucleus as having too many or too few neutrons relative to protons results in an unstable or radioactive nucleus that will later break down to a more stable form and this process is called radioactive decay. Many isotopes have radioactive nuclei and these isotopes are called radioisotopes.