Isotopes and Atoms

- Atomic number = number  of protons


Atomic Mass - Atomic Number = # Neutrons
    (p+n)         -          (p)            =       (n)

*Most radiation comes from isotopes

Isotopes - same atomic number but different mass
Not all atoms of the same element are identical

MASS SPECTROMETERS

• A device known as mass spectrometer can be used to determine the relative abundance and the mass of the isotopes of elements