stable isotope (redirected from Isotopic fractionation)

stable isotope

n.

An isotope of an element that shows no tendency to undergo radioactive breakdown.

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isotope (ī´sōtōp),

n one of several nuclides having the same number of protons in their nuclei, and hence having the same atomic number but differing in the number of neutrons, and therefore in the mass number. The isotopes of a particular element have virtually identical chemical properties.

isotope, stable,

n a nonradioactive isotope of an element.

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stable,

adj the term applied to a substance that has no tendency to decompose spontaneously. As applied to chemical compounds, it denotes their ability to resist chemical alterations.

stable isotope,

n See isotope.

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isotope

a chemical element having the same atomic number as another (i.e. the same number of nuclear protons), but having a different atomic mass (i.e. a different number of nuclear neutrons).

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radioactive isotope

one having an unstable nucleus and which emits characteristic radiation during its decay to a stable form. See also radioisotope.

stable isotope

one that does not transmute into another element with emission of corpuscular or electromagnetic radiations.