What is an Isotope Symbol?

An isotope symbol is a notation used to represent a specific isotope of an element, showing its element symbol, mass number, and atomic number.

To fully understand, let's break down the components:

• Element Symbol: This is the one- or two-letter abbreviation for the element (e.g., C for Carbon, He for Helium).

• Mass Number (A): This is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of the atom. It's placed as a superscript to the left of the element symbol.

• Atomic Number (Z): This is the number of protons in the nucleus, which defines the element. It's placed as a subscript to the left of the element symbol. Though often included for clarity, knowing the element symbol inherently implies the atomic number.

General Form:

^A_ZX

Where:

• X = Element Symbol
• A = Mass Number
• Z = Atomic Number

Example:

Carbon-14 is represented as ¹⁴₆C. This indicates:

• C = Carbon (element symbol)
• 14 = Mass number (6 protons + 8 neutrons)
• 6 = Atomic number (number of protons)

Essentially, the isotope symbol provides a concise way to identify a specific isotope of an element, specifying the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus.