Science Fact Finder | Chemistry and Physics - Which Elements Have The Most Isotopes?

Which elements have the most isotopes?

Isotopes are forms of a chemical element (elements are pure substances that cannot be broken down into anything simpler by ordinary chemical means) having different atomic weights; one isotope can be differentiated from another by the number of neutrons (neutrally charged particles) in the atomic nucleus. The elements that have the greatest possible number of isotopes, 36, are xenon (Xe) and cesium (Cs). Xenon has 9 stable isotopes and 27 radioactive isotopes. (Stable isotopes retain their atomic configurations whereas radioactive isotopes "decay" over time by shedding high-energy subatomic particles.) Cesium has 1 stable isotope and 35 radioactive isotopes.

The element with the smallest number of isotopes, 3, is hydrogen (H). Hydrogen has 2 stable isotopes: protium and deuterium; and 1 radioactive isotope: tritium.

Source: The Guinness Book of Records...

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass