Isotopes are located in the same position on the periodic table as their corresponding element. They have the same atomic number (number of protons) but differ in their atomic mass (number of neutrons).

Here's a simple breakdown:

* Element: The fundamental building block with a unique atomic number.

* Isotopes: Variations of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.

For example, carbon (C) has an atomic number of 6, meaning all carbon atoms have 6 protons. But, there are several isotopes of carbon:

* Carbon-12 (¹²C): 6 protons and 6 neutrons

* Carbon-13 (¹³C): 6 protons and 7 neutrons

* Carbon-14 (¹⁴C): 6 protons and 8 neutrons

All these isotopes are still carbon, but their atomic masses differ. They occupy the same location on the periodic table, representing the element carbon.