isotope

[ ahy-suh-tohp ]
/ ˈaɪ səˌtoʊp /

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 of isotope

1910–15; iso- + -tope < Greek tópos place

OTHER WORDS FROM isotope

i·so·top·ic [ahy-suh-top-ik] /ˌaɪ səˈtɒp ɪk/, adjective i·so·top·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby isotope

isotone, isotonia, isotonic, isotonic exercise, isotonic sodium chloride solution, isotope, isotope geology, isotopic number, isotopic spin, isotopy, isotretinoin

Example sentences from the Web for isotope

British Dictionary definitions for isotope

isotope
/ (ˈaɪsəˌtəʊp) /

noun

one of two or more atoms with the same atomic number that contain different numbers of neutrons

Derived forms of isotope

isotopic (ˌaɪsəˈtɒpɪk), adjective isotopically, adverb isotopy (aɪˈsɒtəpɪ), noun

Word Origin for isotope

C20: from iso- + Greek topos place

Medical definitions for isotope

isotope
[ ī′sə-tōp′ ]

n.

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

Other words from isotope

i′so•top′ic (-tŏp′ĭk) adj.

Scientific definitions for isotope

isotope
[ ī′sə-tōp′ ]

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.

Cultural definitions for isotope

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.