Isotope geochemistry
Loading...
Date
Authors
Diamond, Roger E.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academy of Science South Africa
Abstract
Isotopes are atoms that belong to the same element,
but have different numbers of neutrons. For example,
hydrogen can have 0 neutrons (protium) or 1 neutron
(deuterium) or 2 neutrons (tritium). The mass changes
because of the extra neutrons, so protium hydrogen,
with only a proton, has an atomic mass of about
1 amu (atomic mass unit), deuterium hydrogen,
with one proton and one neutron, has a mass of
about 2 amu and tritium, with one proton and two
neutrons, is about 3 amu. Remember – if you change
the number of protons, you change the element.
Description
Keywords
Isotopes, Neutrons, Proton, Mass
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Diamond. R 2019, 'Isotope geochemistry', Quest, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 16.