isotope

[ahy-suh-tohp] /ˈaɪ səˌtoʊp/
noun, Chemistry
1.
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
1910-15; iso- + -tope < Greek tópos place
Related forms
isotopic
[ahy-suh-top-ik] /ˌaɪ səˈtɒp ɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective
isotopically, adverb
Examples from the web for isotopes
  • isotopes are versions of an element that have almost the same chemical properties but different atomic weights.
  • But the world has a short attention span, whereas the half-lives of many radioactive isotopes are long indeed.
  • isotopes can even indicate the order in which the planets formed.
  • Oxygen isotopes from drinking water, for example, become fixed in people's teeth as they age.
  • Infinitesimal radioactive isotopes can be carried along on the breeze, landing unseen on the ground, clothes and skin.
  • It is highly unstable, and all isotopes are radioactive.
  • Those isotopes with short half-lives have already disappeared.
  • Primarily a research reactor, it also produces medical isotopes.
  • Water contains two isotopes of oxygen, one of which has two more neutrons than the other, making it heavier.
  • Breeder reactors are possible because of the proportion of uranium isotopes that exist in nature.
British Dictionary definitions for isotopes

isotope

/ˈaɪsəˌtəʊp/
noun
1.
one of two or more atoms with the same atomic number that contain different numbers of neutrons
Derived Forms
isotopic (ˌaɪsəˈtɒpɪk) adjective
isotopically, adverb
isotopy (aɪˈsɒtəpɪ) noun
Word Origin
C20: from iso- + Greek topos place
Word Origin and History for isotopes

isotope

n.

1913, literally "having the same place," introduced by British chemist Frederick Soddy (1877-1956) on suggestion of Margaret Todd, from Greek isos "equal" (see iso-) + topos "place" (see topos); so called because despite the different atomic weights, the various forms of an element occupy the same place on the periodic table.

isotopes in Medicine

isotope i·so·tope (ī'sə-tōp')
n.
One of two or more atoms having the same atomic number but different mass numbers.

i'so·top'ic (-tŏp'ĭk) adj.
isotopes in Science
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.
isotopes in Culture
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.

Slang definitions & phrases for isotopes

isotope

noun

A nearly identical person; near double: Like his isotope Paglia, Rush Limbaugh can be counted on to bury the occasional nugget of truth beneath his avalanche of infuriating extrapolation and phony statistics/It actually IS you. Or an isotope of you. Or a photocopy of you

[1990s+; fr the term denoting nearly identical atoms in a chemical element]