Atoms & Isotopes — GCSE Physics Revision
Revise Atoms & Isotopes for GCSE Physics. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP.
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Go to Radioactivity (GCSE)What is Atoms & Isotopes?
Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. They consist of a central nucleus containing protons and neutrons, which is orbited by electrons. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. This means they have the same atomic number but a different mass number.
Board notes: A fundamental topic in all GCSE science courses (AQA, Edexcel, OCR).
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
Carbon-12 has 6 protons and 6 neutrons. Carbon-14 is an isotope of carbon. How many protons and neutrons does it have? Solution: As it is an isotope of carbon, it must have 6 protons. The mass number is 14, so the number of neutrons is 14 - 6 = 8.
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Common mistakes
- 1Confusing the atomic number and the mass number. The atomic number is the number of protons, which defines the element. The mass number is the total number of protons and neutrons.
- 2Thinking that isotopes of an element have different chemical properties. Because they have the same number of electrons, isotopes have identical chemical properties.
- 3Forgetting that the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons in a neutral atom.
Atoms & Isotopes exam questions
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for Atoms & Isotopes
Core concept
Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. They consist of a central nucleus containing protons and neutrons, which is orbited by electrons. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the sa…
Frequently asked questions
What is the structure of an atom?
An atom has a small, dense nucleus at its centre containing protons and neutrons. Electrons orbit the nucleus in shells or energy levels.
How are isotopes used?
Radioactive isotopes (radioisotopes) have many uses, including in medical imaging and treatment (e.g., Cobalt-60), and in carbon dating to determine the age of ancient artefacts.