Etymology

isotope

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Today it means: Any of two or more forms of an element where the atoms have the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons within their nuclei. Thus, isotopes have the same atomic number but a different mass number. Full definition →

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isotope · noun1

From iso- (“equal”) + -tope (“place”), because the different isotopes of an element always occupy the same place in the periodic table. The term was coined by Scottish doctor Margaret Todd in 1909 and first used publicly on February 27, 1913 by English chemist Frederick Soddy.

isotope · verb2

Possible back-formation from isotopy.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.