Uncovering the Mystery of Isotope Formation: The Role of Strong Interaction

  • Thread starter Thread starter aiop
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Isotopes
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the formation of isotopes, specifically addressing the roles of protons and neutrons in atomic structure and the interactions that govern their behavior. The scope includes conceptual clarifications and technical explanations related to nuclear physics.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the relationship between protons, charge, and isotope formation, suggesting a misunderstanding of fundamental concepts.
  • Another participant asserts that neutrons, not protons, are responsible for the existence of isotopes.
  • A different participant clarifies that protons do carry a positive charge and that the atomic number, determined by the number of protons, defines the element.
  • It is noted that isotopes of the same element have varying numbers of neutrons, which affects their nuclear stability and reactions.
  • One participant introduces the concept of the strong interaction, stating that protons and neutrons attract each other, which is relevant to understanding isotope formation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the role of protons and neutrons in isotope formation, with no consensus reached on the initial question posed. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of charge and interaction in this context.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on assumptions about the nature of charge and nuclear interactions that are not fully explored or agreed upon. The discussion also highlights the complexity of nuclear reactions without resolving the specifics of these processes.

aiop
Messages
38
Reaction score
0
if protons don't have any for of charge and aren't attract to the nucleus then why are there isotopes?
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
The question is unintelligible. Please correct the typos!
 
It ain't the protons that makes the isotope, it's the neutrons!
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Anama Skout
Protons DO carry a positive charge.
The number of protons in a nucleus is the atomic number, which also determines the number of electrons the atom has, and defines which element we are talking about.

Atoms can have various numbers of neutrons as well as protons in their nucleus.
Neutrons are uncharged and different numbers of them in the nucleus of an atom are the different isotopes.
Different isotopes are still of the same element though and they have the same number of electrons and similar chemical properties.

Different isotopes of the same element do not have similar nuclear reactions though.
Some isotopes of an element are stable for a very long time, even immeasurably long, whereas others are not stable and can easy undergo nuclear reactions, (either fission or fusion).
This leads to nucleii with a different number of protons to the original, so new elements are produced as a result of these reactions.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: aiop
And perhaps the fact that you are missing is that neutrons and protons do attract each other with a so called strong interaction.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: aiop

Similar threads

Why wasn't fluorine used as a standard for atomic mass?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Undergrad Decay constant of Different Elements and Isotopes?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School Beta Plus Decay: What's Left for the Electron?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
High School Why does the nucleus become unstable as the number of nucleons increases?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
5K
Undergrad What Are the Complexities of Radioactive Isotopes in Nuclear Chemistry?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Undergrad Questions about neutron interactions
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
High School Why don't neutrons bind into large out of control masses?
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
Undergrad The fate of neutron rich nuclei
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Graduate How can metastable isotopes exist?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Why does copper have a higher melting point than aluminium?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
7K