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Ch.2 - Atoms & Elements
Chapter 2, Problem 51a

Write isotopic symbols in the form X-A (e.g., C-13) for each isotope. a. the silver isotope with 60 neutrons

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This difference in neutron count results in varying atomic masses. For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon, with 6 and 8 neutrons, respectively. Isotopes can be stable or radioactive, influencing their applications in fields like medicine and archaeology.
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Isotopic Notation

Isotopic notation is a way to represent isotopes using the format X-A, where 'X' is the chemical symbol of the element and 'A' is the mass number, which is the sum of protons and neutrons. For instance, in the notation C-14, 'C' represents carbon, and '14' indicates that the isotope has a total of 14 nucleons (6 protons and 8 neutrons). This notation helps in identifying specific isotopes and their properties.
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03:57
Isotope Notation Example

Mass Number

The mass number of an isotope is the total count of protons and neutrons in its nucleus. It is crucial for distinguishing between different isotopes of the same element. For example, if silver has 47 protons and 60 neutrons, its mass number would be 107 (47 protons + 60 neutrons), leading to the isotopic symbol Ag-107. Understanding mass numbers is essential for calculations involving atomic mass and nuclear stability.
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