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Isotopes
The following 2 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.
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Where do the additional neutrons come?
Question
October 9, 2008
I am a PreAP Chem teacher and one of my students asked a question I could not answer.....Where do the additional neutrons come from that change the mass of an isotope?
molly - USA
16620
Answer
In the formation of the elements, eons ago, protons and neutrons combined to form that various nuclei. Combinations that were not stable decayed, thus we have a large percentage of one isotope of an element with much smaller percentages of other isotopes that either have more or fewer neutrons in the nucleus than the common isotope.
But also, there are free neutrons moving about in a material. If one hits a nucleus, it is possible to be captured, thus creating an isotope with an extra neutron. For very heavy unstable elements, such as Uranium, the added neutron can cause the atom to split.
Your website is brilliant
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November 17, 2007
Hello, i am a high school student and your website is brilliant. It has helped through some tough times and has guided me in my assignments. Thank you very much and keep up the great work!
Vipul - Australia
14795
Answer
Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad the material has been useful to you. Best wishes on getting top grades in your classes.
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