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Nuclear & Particle Physics

Isobars

Nuclides of different chemical elements that share the exact same mass number A (total number of nucleons) while having different atomic numbers Z.

Governing formula A = Z + N = Constant
SI unit Dimensionless Species

In depth

Isobars have different numbers of protons and neutrons (different Z and N), belonging to different chemical elements, but share nearly identical mass numbers. Beta decay transitions parent nuclides into daughter isobars.

Examples in the real world

Carbon-14 (Z=6, A=14) and Nitrogen-14 (Z=7, A=14) serving as nuclear isobars related by beta-minus decay.