noun
- one of two or more forms of a chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their atomic nuclei
Usage: chemistry; physics
Examples
- Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope used in dating ancient artifacts.
- Uranium has several isotopes, including uranium-235 and uranium-238.
- The scientist studied different isotopes of hydrogen in the laboratory.
- Medical imaging often uses radioactive isotopes as tracers.
- Stable isotopes do not undergo radioactive decay.
- The isotope had a half-life of only a few seconds.