The most common oxygen isotope is 16 8O , but the rarer isotopes 17 8O and 18 8O
ID: 975780 • Letter: T
Question
The most common oxygen isotope is 16 8O , but the rarer isotopes 17 8O and 18 8O of this element also exist in nature. These less common isotopes are stable, and measurements of their abundances have proved crucial in many fields of scientific research. For example, in climate research studies, the ratio of 18 8O to 16 8O measured in natural waters, as well as in polar ice, can provide useful information on the precipitiation history in a given area. This is because water containing 18 8O evaporates less readily, and condenses more easily as precipitation, than water containing 16 8O .
What distinguishes two different isotopes of an element is the number of neutrons contained in their nucleus. How many protons and neutrons are there in the nucleus of the heavier oxygen isotope, 18 8O ? Let Z be the number of protons (the atomic number) and N the number of neutrons.
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Explanation / Answer
18O8
No. of Protons Z = 8
No. of Neutrons N = 18-8 = 10