Three of the isotopes of Tellurium, Te, have mass numbers of 124, 126, and 130. Tellurium-124 has 52 protons and 72 neutrons. Tellurium-126 has 52 protons and 74 neutrons. Tellurium-130 has 52 protons and 78 neutrons. What is the complete isotope label for each isotope of Tellurium? Which of the subatomic particles has a charge associated with it and what is that charge?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answers:
Isotope Labels:
- Tellurium-124: ¹²⁴₅₂Te
- Tellurium-126: ¹²⁶₅₂Te
- Tellurium-130: ¹³⁰₅₂Te
Charged Subatomic Particle and Its Charge:
- Proton has a positive charge of +1.
- Electron has a negative charge of -1.
- Neutron has no charge (neutral).
Explanation
An isotope refers to an atom of the same element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons, which results in a different mass number. All tellurium isotopes have 52 protons, as that is the defining characteristic of the element Tellurium (Te) on the periodic table.
The complete isotope label consists of the mass number (protons + neutrons) as the superscript, the atomic number (number of protons) as the subscript, followed by the chemical symbol. For example, Tellurium-124 has 52 protons and 72 neutrons, giving it a mass number of 124, written as ¹²⁴₅₂Te.
- ¹²⁴₅₂Te = 52 protons + 72 neutrons
- ¹²⁶₅₂Te = 52 protons + 74 neutrons
- ¹³⁰₅₂Te = 52 protons + 78 neutrons
These isotopes are chemically similar since they have the same number of protons and electrons (if neutral), but their nuclear stability and atomic mass differ due to the varying number of neutrons.
Among the three main subatomic particles—protons, neutrons, and electrons—only protons and electrons carry electric charges. Protons carry a +1 charge, while electrons carry a -1 charge. Neutrons are neutral and do not affect the atom’s charge, but they do contribute to the mass and nuclear stability.
In a neutral atom, the number of protons equals the number of electrons, balancing the positive and negative charges. Understanding the properties of isotopes and subatomic particles is crucial in nuclear chemistry, medicine (like in PET scans), and atomic energy research.
