The term "isobar" originates from the Greek words "isos" meaning "equal" and "baros" meaning "weight." This name reflects the defining characteristic of isobars: they are atoms of different elements that have the same mass number.
Here's a breakdown:
- Mass number: The mass number of an atom represents the total number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus.
- Isobars: Isobars are atoms of different elements that share the same mass number but have different numbers of protons and neutrons.
For example:
- Carbon-14 (¹⁴C) and Nitrogen-14 (¹⁴N) are isobars. Both have a mass number of 14. However, Carbon-14 has 6 protons and 8 neutrons, while Nitrogen-14 has 7 protons and 7 neutrons.
The concept of isobars is crucial in understanding nuclear physics and chemistry, as it helps explain the behavior of atoms and their interactions with each other.
