isotopic

Isotopic refers to the property of atoms that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei. These variants of an element are known as isotopes. Isotopes of a given element have nearly identical chemical properties because they possess the same number of electrons and the same electronic structure. However, they may differ in physical properties, such as atomic mass and radioactive decay characteristics.

Isotopes are commonly used in various scientific and industrial applications. For example, carbon-14 (14C) is used in radiocarbon dating to determine the age of archaeological artifacts. Hydrogen-3 (3H), also known as tritium, is employed in nuclear fusion research and as a tracer in biological systems. Additionally, stable isotopes of elements like oxygen and strontium are used to study geological processes and environmental changes.

The study of isotopes and their behavior is a critical area of research in fields such as geology, chemistry, biology, and nuclear physics. Techniques like mass spectrometry are employed to separate and analyze different isotopes, providing valuable insights into the composition and history of materials.