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Atomic Structure & Periodicity

Isotone

One of a set of nuclides that contain the same number of neutrons but different numbers of protons.

Formula / equation same N, different Z
Unit Dimensionless

In depth

Isotones are useful in nuclear structure studies because trends across an isotone series isolate the effect of proton number on binding energy and stability. Nuclides with a magic neutron number form especially stable isotone families.

Examples in the real world

Carbon-14, nitrogen-15 and oxygen-16 each contain 8 neutrons.