Why Should We Care?

The fact that elements occur in different isotopic forms provides scientists with useful analytical data. For example, this data enables us to determine the source of carbon atoms in the atmosphere - did they come from burning fossil fuels, or from living organisms? We can also use analysis of isotopes to approximate the temperature of climates that existed hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Isotopes are used in other fields as well, including forensics. These techniques are generally based upon the fact that different isotopes of an element have slightly different physical and chemical properties.

Fun Fact: The word “isotope” comes from the Greek words isos ("same") and topos ("place") because isotopes occupy the same place on the periodic table - they are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus!