isotope

iso·tope

noun \ˈī-sə-ˌtōp\

Definition of ISOTOPE

1

: any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties

2

: nuclide

— iso·to·pic \ˌī-sə-ˈtä-pik, -ˈtō-\ adjective

— iso·to·pi·cal·ly \-ˈtä-pi-k(ə-)lē, -ˈtō-\ adverb

Origin of ISOTOPE

is- + Greek topos place

First Known Use: 1913

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

Rhymes with ISOTOPE

antelope, antipope, arthroscope, biotope, bronchoscope, bunny slope, calliope, cryoscope, endoscope, envelope, episcope, epitope, fluoroscope, forlorn hope, gastroscope, gyroscope, horoscope, interlope, kinescope, microscope, misanthrope, periscope, phalarope, radarscope, slippery slope, sniperscope, spectroscope, telescope

iso·tope

noun \ˈī-sə-ˌtōp\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ISOTOPE

1

: any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and position in the periodic table and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties

2

: nuclide

—iso·to·pic \ˌī-sə-ˈtäp-ik, -ˈtō-pik\ (audio pronunciation) (audio pronunciation) adjective

—iso·to·pi·cal·ly \-ˈtäp-i-k(ə-)lē, -ˈtō-pi-\ (audio pronunciation) (audio pronunciation) adverb

—iso·to·py \ˈī-sə-ˌtō-pē, ī-ˈsät-ə-pē\ (audio pronunciation) (audio pronunciation) noun, plural ; iso·to·pies

isotope

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

One of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element having nuclei with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. They have the same atomic number and hence nearly identical chemical behaviour but different atomic masses. Most elements found in nature are mixtures of several isotopes; tin, for example, has 10 isotopes. In most cases, only stable isotopes of elements are found in nature. The radioactive forms break down spontaneously into different elements (see radioactivity). Isotopes of all elements heavier than bismuth are radioactive; some occur naturally because they have long half-lives.