Define isotope. What are the different isotopes of hydrogen?

Isotope Definition:

Isotopes are different forms of the same element that have the same number of protons (and hence the same atomic number), but different numbers of neutrons. This results in different atomic mass numbers. Although isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties (because they have the same number of electrons), they can have different physical properties, such as density, stability, and radioactivity.

Different Isotopes of Hydrogen:

Hydrogen has three main isotopes:

  1. Protium (¹H):

    • This is the most common isotope of hydrogen.
    • It has 1 proton and 0 neutrons.
    • Atomic number = 1, Atomic mass number = 1.
    • It is stable and non-radioactive.

  2. Deuterium (²H or D):

    • Deuterium has 1 proton and 1 neutron.
    • Atomic number = 1, Atomic mass number = 2.
    • It is also stable and is commonly used in scientific applications (such as in heavy water for nuclear reactors).

  3. Tritium (³H or T):

    • Tritium has 1 proton and 2 neutrons.
    • Atomic number = 1, Atomic mass number = 3.
    • It is radioactive and decays over time, emitting beta radiation. It is used in some specialized applications like self-luminous signs and in nuclear fusion research.

Related Questions:

  1. When a uranium nucleus absorbs a slow neutron, it subsequently emits two α-particles. What is the resulting element?
  2. Define atomic number, atomic mass number, and nucleon number. How is an atom represented symbolically? Find the number of protons, neutrons, atomic number, atomic mass number, and nucleon number from X. Which element is this?
  3. Numerical Problems of Chapter 18: Radioactivity
  4. What is common in isotopes of an element and what is different in them?
  5. It happens that a nuclear radiation emits from an atom of an element, and it moves one step ahead in the periodic table. Explain.
  6. Why do nuclei of atoms with atomic numbers greater than 82 emit radiation?
  7. β-particle is emitted from the neutron of the nucleus. Write the nuclear equation for this reaction.
  8. Why is the range of β-particles greater than α-particles in air with the same energy?
  9. Why is the ionization power of α-particles greater than β-particles in solids with the same energy?
  10. What fraction of a radioactive element will be left after 4 half-lives have elapsed?
  11. Why is energy released when lighter nuclei fuse with heavier nuclei?
  12. How long will a radioactive element take to decay completely?
  13. Physics 10 MCQ
  14. Simple harmonic motion and waves
  15. Simple harmonic motion and waves-NFE
  16. Give an example of vibratory motion which is not simple harmonic motion. Give a reason for your selection.
  17. At the extreme position, velocity is zero but acceleration is maximum in simple harmonic motion. How can you theoretically explain it?
  18. What will happen to the acceleration of a mass-spring system if its mass is doubled?
  19. A simple pendulum has a time period “T”. What will happen to its time period if its thread length is shortened to half?
  20. A simple pendulum has a time period of 4 seconds. Will its time period remain the same or change if its steel bob is replaced by a wooden bob of the same size?