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Nuclear & Particle Physics

Isotones

Nuclides of different chemical elements that share the exact same number of neutrons N = A - Z while possessing different proton numbers Z.

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

In depth

Isotones belong to different chemical elements and have different chemical properties, but help nuclear physicists study nuclear shell structure and neutron stability trends across different elements.

Examples in the real world

Carbon-14 (Z=6, N=8), Nitrogen-15 (Z=7, N=8), and Oxygen-16 (Z=8, N=8) all being isotones with N = 8 neutrons.