The World of Isotopes
An interactive journey into the variants of elements that shape our universe. Discover their origins, the brilliant minds who unveiled them, and their profound impact on medicine, industry, and our exploration of the cosmos.
A Journey of Discovery
The concept of isotopes wasn't a single "Eureka!" moment, but a puzzle assembled over decades by pioneering scientists. This timeline highlights the key breakthroughs that unveiled a new layer of atomic reality. Click on each event to learn more.
What is an Isotope?
Atoms of the same element always have the same number of protons. But what happens when the number of neutrons changes? This section lets you explore the core concepts of isotopes, stability, and radioactivity through interactive visualizations.
Build a Carbon Atom
Carbon always has 6 protons. Use the buttons below to add or remove neutrons and see how you create different isotopes of carbon, each with unique properties.
Carbon-12 ($^{12}$C)
Protons: 6, Neutrons: 6
Stable
The Band of Stability
Why are some isotopes stable and others radioactive? It's all about the neutron-to-proton ratio. This chart shows the "band of stability" where stable nuclei are found. Nuclei outside this band are unstable and will decay.
The Isotope Toolkit
From diagnosing diseases to powering space missions and dating ancient artifacts, isotopes are indispensable tools. Explore their diverse applications across various fields. Click on a category to filter the examples below.