Here's a breakdown:
* Element: Defined by the number of protons in its nucleus (atomic number). All atoms of a specific element have the same number of protons.
* Isotope: Atoms of the same element that have a different number of neutrons.
For example:
* Carbon has an atomic number of 6, meaning all carbon atoms have 6 protons.
* Carbon-12 (¹²C) has 6 protons and 6 neutrons.
* Carbon-14 (¹⁴C) has 6 protons and 8 neutrons.
Key points:
* Isotopes of the same element have the same chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons.
* Isotopes have different physical properties, such as mass and density, due to the difference in neutrons.
* Some isotopes are radioactive, meaning they are unstable and decay over time.
In summary: While all atoms of an element share the same number of protons, their number of neutrons can vary, creating different isotopes with slightly different properties.
