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A table or chart of nuclides is a two-dimensional graph of isotopes of the elements, in which one axis represents the number of neutrons (symbol N) and the other represents the number of protons (atomic number, symbol Z) in the atomic nucleus. Each point plotted on the graph thus represents a nuclide of a known or hypothetical chemical element.
A nuclide is a species of an atom with a specific number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, for example, carbon-13 with 6 protons and 7 neutrons. The nuclide concept (referring to individual nuclear species) emphasizes nuclear properties over chemical properties, whereas the isotope concept (grouping all atoms of each element) emphasizes chemical over nuclear.
Isotopes of an element are distinguished by mass number (total protons and neutrons), with this number combined with the element's symbol. IUPAC prefers that isotope symbols be written in superscript notation when practical, for example 12 C and 235 U. However, other notations, such as carbon-12 and uranium-235, or C-12 and U-235, are also used.
The symbols for isotopes of elements other than hydrogen and radon are no longer used in the scientific community. Many of these symbols were designated during the early years of radiochemistry , and several isotopes (namely those in the decay chains of actinium , radium , and thorium ) bear placeholder names using the early naming system ...
This diagram shows the half-life (T ½) of various isotopes with Z protons and neutron number N. The neutron number (symbol N ) is the number of neutrons in a nuclide . Atomic number (proton number) plus neutron number equals mass number : Z + N = A .
See Isotope#Notation for an explanation of the notation used for different nuclide or isotope types. Nuclear isomers are members of a set of nuclides with equal proton number and equal mass number (thus making them by definition the same isotope), but different states of excitation. An example is the two states of the single isotope 99 43 Tc
The mass number (symbol A, from the German word: Atomgewicht, "atomic weight"), [1] also called atomic mass number or nucleon number, is the total number of protons and neutrons (together known as nucleons) in an atomic nucleus. It is approximately equal to the atomic (also known as isotopic) mass of the atom expressed in atomic mass units.
Some isotopes have had historical or confusing names and symbols, these are to be avoided (except when quoting historical usage): e.g. thoron (Tn) (220 Rn), actinon (An) (219 Rn), ionium (Io) (230 Th), radiocarbon (14 C). It is permissible to use the atomic number rather than the symbol in contexts about history when anachronism is to be ...