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Home > Articles > Difference Between Isotopes and Isobars: Definitions, Examples, History, Uses, Key Differences, and Sample Questions
Updated on 31st January, 2023 , 6 min read
Isobar elements have chemical characteristics that differ yet have the same physical attribute. Isotopes and isobars are two keywords used often in atomic structure. Isotopes are elements with distinct mass numbers but the same atomic numbers. Isotopes are elements with identical mass values but different atomic numbers. Thus, the primary distinction between isotopes and isobars is that isotopes are of the same element as isotones. Isotopes also have comparable chemical characteristics. Isobars, on the other hand, have distinct chemical characteristics.
Atoms with the same number of protons but different quantities of neutrons are called isotopes. The atomic number of an atom is the number of protons in that atom. The number of protons in a chemical element is fixed. As a result, the atomic number of atoms of the same chemical element is identical. Isotopes are therefore atoms of the same chemical element. The atomic mass is defined as the total number of protons and neutrons. The atomic masses of isotopes differ. The chemical behavior of isotopes of a chemical element is the same, but their physical qualities differ. Isotopes exist for almost every chemical element. There are275 known stable chemical element isotopes. An isotope is called using the chemical element name and the isotope's atomic mass.
Margaret Todd suggested that the name "isotope" be used by the British scientist Frederick Soddy in 1913. The word derives its meaning from the Greek words isos (equal) + topos (location). Isotopes of the same element have the same position on the periodic table while having differing atomic weights.
There are main approaches to identifying isotopes, they are as follows-
The name "isobar" comes from the Greek words isos (equal) and baros (weight). Isobars are atoms of various chemical elements with identical atomic masses. Atomic mass is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus. A nucleon is either a proton or a neutron. As a result, isobars contain the same number of nucleons. Because various chemical elements have varying atomic numbers, the atomic numbers of these isobars differ. According to the Mattauch isobar rule, if two neighboring elements on the periodic table contain isotopes with the same mass number (isobars), at least one of these isotopes must be radioactive. If three successive isobars exist, the first and last are stable, whereas the middle one may experience radioactive decay. An isobar series is a grouping of isotopes with the same atomic mass.
The following table explains the different elements classifications-
Elements |
No. of Protons |
No. of Neutrons |
Mass Numbers |
Atomic Number |
Carbon (¹²C) |
6 |
6 |
12 |
6 |
Carbon (¹³C) |
6 |
7 |
13 |
6 |
Carbon (¹⁴C) |
6 |
8 |
14 |
6 |
Hydrogen (¹H) |
1 |
- |
1 |
1 |
Hydrogen (²H) |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
Hydrogen (³H) |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
The following table explains the different elements classifications-
Elements |
No. of Protons |
No. of Neutrons |
Mass Numbers |
Atomic Number |
Sulphur (¹²S) |
16 |
24 |
40 |
16 |
Chlorine (¹³Cl) |
17 |
23 |
40 |
17 |
Argon (¹⁴Ar) |
18 |
22 |
40 |
18 |
The following table gives information about the differences between isotopes and isobars-
Parameters |
Isotopes |
Isobars |
Atomic Number |
Isotopes share the same atomic number but differ in mass. |
Isobars share the same mass number but have distinct atomic numbers. |
No. of Neutrons |
The number of neutrons in the atom's nucleus varies. |
The total number of protons and neutrons for two isobars is equal. |
No. of Protons |
The number of protons in the nucleus of an isotope atom is equal. |
The number of protons in the nucleus of an isobar atom is not equal. |
Chemical Properties |
Isotopes have identical chemical characteristics. |
Isobars have various chemical characteristics. |
Periodic Table Position |
Isotopes of an element are listed in the same column as the element itself in the periodic table. |
Elements' isobars are arranged in the periodic table in various positions. |
Physical Properties |
Isotopes have various physical characteristics. |
Isobars have essentially identical physical characteristics. |
The terms isotope and isobar indicates the chemical element connections. As a result, it is critical to comprehend the distinction between them. Isotopes represent the link between various versions of the same chemical element. Isobars represent the connection between chemical elements with different atomic masses but the same physical characteristics. Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different quantities of neutrons.
Because they have the same amount of protons and electrons, different isotopes of an element have the same physical and chemical characteristics.
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same atomic number but a different mass number.
Even at the same height, atmospheric pressure varies depending on location. Isobars are reference lines that run beside a route and have the same pressure along the line. The user may generate a realistic estimate at any map point by drawing a sequence of lines, each one identifying a spot where the pressures have a comparable stated value. He can do so by reading the pressure of the line if it happens to pass through the interesting site exactly, or by interpolating based on the nearest isobar, which is at a higher pressure than the intriguing point, and the isobar nearby, which is at a lower pressure.
Because atoms of the same element have variable numbers of neutrons, elements have various isotopes. Because neutrons and protons have the same mass number (s), different elements may have different isobars.
Isobars are atoms of various elements that have the same mass number but a different atomic number.
It has distinct isotopes due to the existence of a variable number of neutrons in atoms of the same element. Because neutrons and protons have the same mass number (s), various elements might have distinct isobars.
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By - Nikita Parmar 2024-09-06 10:59:22 , 6 min readAns. Isobars are atoms with the same mass but a differing number of protons.
Ans. Stable isotopes include vanadium, carbon, calcium, and potassium.
Ans. ¹⁶O, ¹⁷O, and ¹⁸O are the elements.
Ans. Unstable isotopes release alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.
Ans. ⁴⁰S, ⁴⁰Ar, ⁴⁰Ca, ⁴⁰Cl, and ⁴⁰K are all elements.
Ans. Isotopes are atoms that have the same number of protons but a varying number of neutrons and protons.