CAIE IGCSE Physics Isotopes and Nuclear Composition

Practise defining isotopes and identifying isotope pairs from nuclide symbols or particle tables by matching proton number while comparing neutron number.

Exam points

define isotopes as atoms of the same element with equal proton numbers but different neutron numbers
identify isotope pairs from equal Z values and different A values in nuclide symbols or tables
compare named isotopes by subtracting their nucleon numbers to find the neutron difference

[Maximum number: 1]

Many household smoke alarms contain a sample of the radioactive isotope americium-241 (Am).

Americium-241 is the isotope of the element americium that has the nucleon number (mass number) 241.

State how the composition of a nucleus of americium-241 differs from that of a nucleus of americium-242.

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5.1.2.5—What is meant by an isotope and state question 1