OXYGEN ISOTOPES
The
chemical elements are often found in more than one
form. The number of protons in the
atomic nucleus
is constant for any given element, but the number
of neutrons in the nucleus can vary.
The chemical
behavior of isotopes of the same element is very
similar, the main difference being their weight. Oxygen
primarily comes in two isotopes: Oxygen 16 and
Oxygen 18. Oxygen 18 has two extra
neutrons, making
it about 10% heavier than Oxygen 16.