Name_______________

Isotopes & Radioactivity

Date___________B____
The identity of an element is defined by its number of _______________. For example, every atom
of Carbon has ___ protons and ONLY atoms with 6 protons are __________. However, atoms of
the same element can have ________________ number of neutrons. When atoms of the same
element have different numbers of neutrons they are called ________________ . Since the mass
of an atom is determined by the total number of protons and neutrons, isotopes of the same element
will have different __________ despite having the _________ numbers of protons. Also, isotopes of
the same element will have similar _____________ behavior. This is because chemical
_____________ is based on the number of ____, and isotopes only have different numbers of ____.

Sample Problem: Show mathematically that 1H, 2H and 3H are isotopes of Hydrogen. Write the
full atomic notation for each of the three isotopes of Hydrogen and show why they are isotopes by
listing the number p+, e-, and n0 for each. ONE has been done for you

p+= 1 (atomic number)

e- = 1
n0 = 0 (Mass- atomic number) 1-1= 0
Unlike ___________ and ____________________ forces that can have large effects over large
distances, the nuclear __________ and _________ force operate over extremely short distances in
the nucleus. The strong force and weak force hold p+ and no together in the nucleus in a
_________ ratio, which is a stable range. Unstable nuclei are ___________________ and can
give off several types of radiation to become more ____________.
Types of
Radiation
Alpha Particle

Beta Particle

Gamma Ray

Greek
Symbol

Equation
Symbol

Mass

Description

Blocked by

Risk

Isotopes & Radioactivity

Name_______________
Date___________B____

While chemical changes can break compounds into their more basic elements or create more
complicated molecules out of simpler elements, in nuclear changes like radioactive ____________
nuclei actually change into different more stable ________________.

Also, nuclear changes

release much ____________ amounts of energy than ___________ changes.

Name_______________

Isotopes & Radioactivity

Date___________B____
Classwork Practice Problems
Student A, answer the following on your white board. Show all work.

Student B, answer the

_____________________________________________________________________________

Name_______________

Isotopes & Radioactivity

Date___________B____

Classwork Practice Problems

Student B, answering the following on your white board. Show all work.

_______________________________________________

Name_______________

Isotopes & Radioactivity

Date___________B____

HOMEWORK:
You need your periodic table for every class and HW from now on!

1. How are isotopes of an element similar?

2. How are they different?

How does a nucleus become stable?

Note: When an isotope is written in the format above, the number after the dash is the mass number.
p+ =

(atomic number)

e- =
n0 =

(Mass- atomic number)

p+ =

(atomic number)

e- =
n0 =

(Mass- atomic number)

4. Rank , , and radiation in order of increasing penetrating power and danger. ___ ___ ___