Is an isobar the same as an isotope?











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I am a little bit confused about what an isobar is. Its online definition is that it's an element with the same number of neutrons but a different number of protons from an element $ce{X}$.




  1. To me, it doesn't make sense from the get-go, because once you change the number of protons the element changes as well so why exactly is it defined as the same element $ce{X}$ with the same number of neutrons and a different number of protons.


  2. Definition of an isotope: An isotope is an element $ce{X}$ with the same number of protons and a different number of neutrons.



So to the actual question now. Isn't an isobar just an isotope? Here is an example to clarify what I mean.
If we take for example carbon $ce{^12C(p:6, n:6)}$ and turn it into an isotope it will be $ce{^13C(p:6, n:7)}$, and that makes sense, but if we turn it into an isobar it would be $ce{^13C(p:7, n:6)}$, which doesn't make sense, because it looks exactly like an isotope of nitrogen $ce{^13N(p:7, n:6)}$.



If the atomic number changes than the element changes as well. So isn't an isobar just an isotope of the following element with a smaller neutron number?










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  • 3




    Related: What are compounds with the same mass called? and What are isodiaphers?
    – Loong
    2 days ago








  • 6




    To me an isobar is a line on a weather chart connecting points of the same atmospheric pressure.
    – Ross Millikan
    2 days ago






  • 2




    @RossMillikan Me too. Maybe because my eldest brother was a USAF meteorologist, I pay more attention to that kind of isobar. Very confusing for the same word to mean very different things in different branches of science.
    – Monty Harder
    2 days ago










  • @MontyHarder: wiki tells me that old greek βάρος (baros) means weight en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B2%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82. So the isobar = same mass/weight seems to be closer to the direct translation of the term than same pressure (which of course is the weight of the atmosphere per area) And btw. in the chart of nuclides you do have isobaric lines as well.
    – cbeleites
    yesterday










  • It is easier to think of isotope and isobar as a relation between two or more nuclei. Any given nuclide, such as $ce{^12C}$ is both an isotope and an isobar. The isotopes to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^13C}, ce{^14C}, ce{^15C}, ldots$ and $ce{^11C}, ce{^10C}, ce{^9C}, ldots$. And the isobars to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^12N}, ce{^12O}, ce{^12F}, ldots$ and $ce{^12B}, ce{^12Be}, ce{^12Li}, ldots$.
    – Jeppe Stig Nielsen
    7 hours ago















up vote
20
down vote

favorite
3












I am a little bit confused about what an isobar is. Its online definition is that it's an element with the same number of neutrons but a different number of protons from an element $ce{X}$.




  1. To me, it doesn't make sense from the get-go, because once you change the number of protons the element changes as well so why exactly is it defined as the same element $ce{X}$ with the same number of neutrons and a different number of protons.


  2. Definition of an isotope: An isotope is an element $ce{X}$ with the same number of protons and a different number of neutrons.



So to the actual question now. Isn't an isobar just an isotope? Here is an example to clarify what I mean.
If we take for example carbon $ce{^12C(p:6, n:6)}$ and turn it into an isotope it will be $ce{^13C(p:6, n:7)}$, and that makes sense, but if we turn it into an isobar it would be $ce{^13C(p:7, n:6)}$, which doesn't make sense, because it looks exactly like an isotope of nitrogen $ce{^13N(p:7, n:6)}$.



If the atomic number changes than the element changes as well. So isn't an isobar just an isotope of the following element with a smaller neutron number?










share|improve this question









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Beatrice H. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
















  • 3




    Related: What are compounds with the same mass called? and What are isodiaphers?
    – Loong
    2 days ago








  • 6




    To me an isobar is a line on a weather chart connecting points of the same atmospheric pressure.
    – Ross Millikan
    2 days ago






  • 2




    @RossMillikan Me too. Maybe because my eldest brother was a USAF meteorologist, I pay more attention to that kind of isobar. Very confusing for the same word to mean very different things in different branches of science.
    – Monty Harder
    2 days ago










  • @MontyHarder: wiki tells me that old greek βάρος (baros) means weight en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B2%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82. So the isobar = same mass/weight seems to be closer to the direct translation of the term than same pressure (which of course is the weight of the atmosphere per area) And btw. in the chart of nuclides you do have isobaric lines as well.
    – cbeleites
    yesterday










  • It is easier to think of isotope and isobar as a relation between two or more nuclei. Any given nuclide, such as $ce{^12C}$ is both an isotope and an isobar. The isotopes to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^13C}, ce{^14C}, ce{^15C}, ldots$ and $ce{^11C}, ce{^10C}, ce{^9C}, ldots$. And the isobars to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^12N}, ce{^12O}, ce{^12F}, ldots$ and $ce{^12B}, ce{^12Be}, ce{^12Li}, ldots$.
    – Jeppe Stig Nielsen
    7 hours ago













up vote
20
down vote

favorite
3









up vote
20
down vote

favorite
3






3





I am a little bit confused about what an isobar is. Its online definition is that it's an element with the same number of neutrons but a different number of protons from an element $ce{X}$.




  1. To me, it doesn't make sense from the get-go, because once you change the number of protons the element changes as well so why exactly is it defined as the same element $ce{X}$ with the same number of neutrons and a different number of protons.


  2. Definition of an isotope: An isotope is an element $ce{X}$ with the same number of protons and a different number of neutrons.



So to the actual question now. Isn't an isobar just an isotope? Here is an example to clarify what I mean.
If we take for example carbon $ce{^12C(p:6, n:6)}$ and turn it into an isotope it will be $ce{^13C(p:6, n:7)}$, and that makes sense, but if we turn it into an isobar it would be $ce{^13C(p:7, n:6)}$, which doesn't make sense, because it looks exactly like an isotope of nitrogen $ce{^13N(p:7, n:6)}$.



If the atomic number changes than the element changes as well. So isn't an isobar just an isotope of the following element with a smaller neutron number?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Beatrice H. is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











I am a little bit confused about what an isobar is. Its online definition is that it's an element with the same number of neutrons but a different number of protons from an element $ce{X}$.




  1. To me, it doesn't make sense from the get-go, because once you change the number of protons the element changes as well so why exactly is it defined as the same element $ce{X}$ with the same number of neutrons and a different number of protons.


  2. Definition of an isotope: An isotope is an element $ce{X}$ with the same number of protons and a different number of neutrons.



So to the actual question now. Isn't an isobar just an isotope? Here is an example to clarify what I mean.
If we take for example carbon $ce{^12C(p:6, n:6)}$ and turn it into an isotope it will be $ce{^13C(p:6, n:7)}$, and that makes sense, but if we turn it into an isobar it would be $ce{^13C(p:7, n:6)}$, which doesn't make sense, because it looks exactly like an isotope of nitrogen $ce{^13N(p:7, n:6)}$.



If the atomic number changes than the element changes as well. So isn't an isobar just an isotope of the following element with a smaller neutron number?







terminology isotope






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edited 2 days ago









Martin - マーチン

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asked 2 days ago









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  • 3




    Related: What are compounds with the same mass called? and What are isodiaphers?
    – Loong
    2 days ago








  • 6




    To me an isobar is a line on a weather chart connecting points of the same atmospheric pressure.
    – Ross Millikan
    2 days ago






  • 2




    @RossMillikan Me too. Maybe because my eldest brother was a USAF meteorologist, I pay more attention to that kind of isobar. Very confusing for the same word to mean very different things in different branches of science.
    – Monty Harder
    2 days ago










  • @MontyHarder: wiki tells me that old greek βάρος (baros) means weight en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B2%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82. So the isobar = same mass/weight seems to be closer to the direct translation of the term than same pressure (which of course is the weight of the atmosphere per area) And btw. in the chart of nuclides you do have isobaric lines as well.
    – cbeleites
    yesterday










  • It is easier to think of isotope and isobar as a relation between two or more nuclei. Any given nuclide, such as $ce{^12C}$ is both an isotope and an isobar. The isotopes to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^13C}, ce{^14C}, ce{^15C}, ldots$ and $ce{^11C}, ce{^10C}, ce{^9C}, ldots$. And the isobars to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^12N}, ce{^12O}, ce{^12F}, ldots$ and $ce{^12B}, ce{^12Be}, ce{^12Li}, ldots$.
    – Jeppe Stig Nielsen
    7 hours ago














  • 3




    Related: What are compounds with the same mass called? and What are isodiaphers?
    – Loong
    2 days ago








  • 6




    To me an isobar is a line on a weather chart connecting points of the same atmospheric pressure.
    – Ross Millikan
    2 days ago






  • 2




    @RossMillikan Me too. Maybe because my eldest brother was a USAF meteorologist, I pay more attention to that kind of isobar. Very confusing for the same word to mean very different things in different branches of science.
    – Monty Harder
    2 days ago










  • @MontyHarder: wiki tells me that old greek βάρος (baros) means weight en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B2%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82. So the isobar = same mass/weight seems to be closer to the direct translation of the term than same pressure (which of course is the weight of the atmosphere per area) And btw. in the chart of nuclides you do have isobaric lines as well.
    – cbeleites
    yesterday










  • It is easier to think of isotope and isobar as a relation between two or more nuclei. Any given nuclide, such as $ce{^12C}$ is both an isotope and an isobar. The isotopes to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^13C}, ce{^14C}, ce{^15C}, ldots$ and $ce{^11C}, ce{^10C}, ce{^9C}, ldots$. And the isobars to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^12N}, ce{^12O}, ce{^12F}, ldots$ and $ce{^12B}, ce{^12Be}, ce{^12Li}, ldots$.
    – Jeppe Stig Nielsen
    7 hours ago








3




3




Related: What are compounds with the same mass called? and What are isodiaphers?
– Loong
2 days ago






Related: What are compounds with the same mass called? and What are isodiaphers?
– Loong
2 days ago






6




6




To me an isobar is a line on a weather chart connecting points of the same atmospheric pressure.
– Ross Millikan
2 days ago




To me an isobar is a line on a weather chart connecting points of the same atmospheric pressure.
– Ross Millikan
2 days ago




2




2




@RossMillikan Me too. Maybe because my eldest brother was a USAF meteorologist, I pay more attention to that kind of isobar. Very confusing for the same word to mean very different things in different branches of science.
– Monty Harder
2 days ago




@RossMillikan Me too. Maybe because my eldest brother was a USAF meteorologist, I pay more attention to that kind of isobar. Very confusing for the same word to mean very different things in different branches of science.
– Monty Harder
2 days ago












@MontyHarder: wiki tells me that old greek βάρος (baros) means weight en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B2%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82. So the isobar = same mass/weight seems to be closer to the direct translation of the term than same pressure (which of course is the weight of the atmosphere per area) And btw. in the chart of nuclides you do have isobaric lines as well.
– cbeleites
yesterday




@MontyHarder: wiki tells me that old greek βάρος (baros) means weight en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B2%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82. So the isobar = same mass/weight seems to be closer to the direct translation of the term than same pressure (which of course is the weight of the atmosphere per area) And btw. in the chart of nuclides you do have isobaric lines as well.
– cbeleites
yesterday












It is easier to think of isotope and isobar as a relation between two or more nuclei. Any given nuclide, such as $ce{^12C}$ is both an isotope and an isobar. The isotopes to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^13C}, ce{^14C}, ce{^15C}, ldots$ and $ce{^11C}, ce{^10C}, ce{^9C}, ldots$. And the isobars to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^12N}, ce{^12O}, ce{^12F}, ldots$ and $ce{^12B}, ce{^12Be}, ce{^12Li}, ldots$.
– Jeppe Stig Nielsen
7 hours ago




It is easier to think of isotope and isobar as a relation between two or more nuclei. Any given nuclide, such as $ce{^12C}$ is both an isotope and an isobar. The isotopes to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^13C}, ce{^14C}, ce{^15C}, ldots$ and $ce{^11C}, ce{^10C}, ce{^9C}, ldots$. And the isobars to $ce{^12C}$ are $ce{^12N}, ce{^12O}, ce{^12F}, ldots$ and $ce{^12B}, ce{^12Be}, ce{^12Li}, ldots$.
– Jeppe Stig Nielsen
7 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

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up vote
34
down vote



accepted










Not quite, an isotope has same number of protons ($ A- N = Z = mathrm{constant}$), but a different number of neutrons ($mathrm N$ varies; e.g. $ce{^3_color{red}{1}H}$ and $ce{^2_color{red}{1}H}$, or $ce{^235_color{red}{92}U}$ and $ce{^238_color{red}{92}U}$ are isotopes).



An isobar has a fixed number of total nucleons ($Z + N = A = mathrm{constant}$; e.g. $ce{^color{red}{40}_19K}$ and $ce{^color{red}{40}_20Ca}$, or $ce{^color{red}{3}_2He}$ and $ce{^color{red}{3}_1H}$ are isobars). Not nearly as mainstream as isotopes, but isobars are important to consider when doing mass spectroscopy.



Extra fact: For nuclei of the same number of neutrons ($A - Z = N = mathrm{constant}$), the term is isotones.






share|improve this answer



















  • 2




    People who don't know as much as A.K. often use "isotope" to mean "you know, like, carbon-14 or something", i.e. all nuclei with a given pair of values for $Z,,N$. In case anyone's curious, the term you want for that is nuclide.
    – J.G.
    2 days ago




















up vote
12
down vote













I believe the definition you found may have been a little bit misleading. Here is another definition of isobar I found: each of two or more isotopes of different elements, with the same atomic weight. An isobar is referring to completely different elements. The prefix iso- means only one component must be the same between the different elements, and in the case of an isobar: mass.



I saw in your question the example that an isobar of carbon-13 would look like so $ce{^13C(p:7, n:6)}$; however, this is not proper notation, as an isobar cannot be of the same element. Once the number of protons changes, your element is no longer the same.



Isobars are simply two different elements with the same mass while isotopes are two of the same elements with different masses.






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    up vote
    8
    down vote













    Isobar is of more interest to physics than chemistry.



    As others have explained, your definition is confusing. The one here may be clearer: isobar (Wikipedia).



    In chemistry, the number of protons is most significant since it determines the number of electrons and hence the chemical behaviour. The number of neutrons is relatively unimportant: variants may be useful for labeling and may have slightly different behaviour (most noticeable for $ce{^1H}$ and $ce{^2H}$). So, isotope is used fairly frequently to discuss these variants of the elements. Isobars may have very different chemical behaviour and are unlikely to be an interesting grouping.



    In nuclear physics, the number of neutrons and protons have a similar significance hence the term nuclide (Wikipedia) for atoms with a specific number of protons and neutrons is useful. Isobars have a closer connection with each other than isotopes since isobars can interconvert via beta processes relatively easily. It is rare for an atom to decay into an isotope. For example, $ce{^{14}C}$ decays into $ce{^{14}N}$ rather than $ce{^{13}C}$ .



    Isobars will be relevant in some specific situations in chemistry such mass spectroscopy. So, it is still useful to understand the concept.






    share|improve this answer























    • Thank you for the explanation. Yes, your right, this question is more of a physical topic than chemical topic, but since the first time I heard about it was in chemistry I mixed it up. Thank you for pointing that out. I will look into the right stackexchange next time.
      – Beatrice H.
      2 days ago






    • 2




      @BeatriceHurbean I'm sure isobar is discussed more in physics than chemistry, but as Loong's related post suggestion shows isobars are important to consider in mass spectroscopy, so very much a chemistry topic too.
      – A.K.
      2 days ago








    • 1




      @A.K. Thanks - a good point.
      – badjohn
      2 days ago











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    3 Answers
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    3 Answers
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    active

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    up vote
    34
    down vote



    accepted










    Not quite, an isotope has same number of protons ($ A- N = Z = mathrm{constant}$), but a different number of neutrons ($mathrm N$ varies; e.g. $ce{^3_color{red}{1}H}$ and $ce{^2_color{red}{1}H}$, or $ce{^235_color{red}{92}U}$ and $ce{^238_color{red}{92}U}$ are isotopes).



    An isobar has a fixed number of total nucleons ($Z + N = A = mathrm{constant}$; e.g. $ce{^color{red}{40}_19K}$ and $ce{^color{red}{40}_20Ca}$, or $ce{^color{red}{3}_2He}$ and $ce{^color{red}{3}_1H}$ are isobars). Not nearly as mainstream as isotopes, but isobars are important to consider when doing mass spectroscopy.



    Extra fact: For nuclei of the same number of neutrons ($A - Z = N = mathrm{constant}$), the term is isotones.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 2




      People who don't know as much as A.K. often use "isotope" to mean "you know, like, carbon-14 or something", i.e. all nuclei with a given pair of values for $Z,,N$. In case anyone's curious, the term you want for that is nuclide.
      – J.G.
      2 days ago

















    up vote
    34
    down vote



    accepted










    Not quite, an isotope has same number of protons ($ A- N = Z = mathrm{constant}$), but a different number of neutrons ($mathrm N$ varies; e.g. $ce{^3_color{red}{1}H}$ and $ce{^2_color{red}{1}H}$, or $ce{^235_color{red}{92}U}$ and $ce{^238_color{red}{92}U}$ are isotopes).



    An isobar has a fixed number of total nucleons ($Z + N = A = mathrm{constant}$; e.g. $ce{^color{red}{40}_19K}$ and $ce{^color{red}{40}_20Ca}$, or $ce{^color{red}{3}_2He}$ and $ce{^color{red}{3}_1H}$ are isobars). Not nearly as mainstream as isotopes, but isobars are important to consider when doing mass spectroscopy.



    Extra fact: For nuclei of the same number of neutrons ($A - Z = N = mathrm{constant}$), the term is isotones.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 2




      People who don't know as much as A.K. often use "isotope" to mean "you know, like, carbon-14 or something", i.e. all nuclei with a given pair of values for $Z,,N$. In case anyone's curious, the term you want for that is nuclide.
      – J.G.
      2 days ago















    up vote
    34
    down vote



    accepted







    up vote
    34
    down vote



    accepted






    Not quite, an isotope has same number of protons ($ A- N = Z = mathrm{constant}$), but a different number of neutrons ($mathrm N$ varies; e.g. $ce{^3_color{red}{1}H}$ and $ce{^2_color{red}{1}H}$, or $ce{^235_color{red}{92}U}$ and $ce{^238_color{red}{92}U}$ are isotopes).



    An isobar has a fixed number of total nucleons ($Z + N = A = mathrm{constant}$; e.g. $ce{^color{red}{40}_19K}$ and $ce{^color{red}{40}_20Ca}$, or $ce{^color{red}{3}_2He}$ and $ce{^color{red}{3}_1H}$ are isobars). Not nearly as mainstream as isotopes, but isobars are important to consider when doing mass spectroscopy.



    Extra fact: For nuclei of the same number of neutrons ($A - Z = N = mathrm{constant}$), the term is isotones.






    share|improve this answer














    Not quite, an isotope has same number of protons ($ A- N = Z = mathrm{constant}$), but a different number of neutrons ($mathrm N$ varies; e.g. $ce{^3_color{red}{1}H}$ and $ce{^2_color{red}{1}H}$, or $ce{^235_color{red}{92}U}$ and $ce{^238_color{red}{92}U}$ are isotopes).



    An isobar has a fixed number of total nucleons ($Z + N = A = mathrm{constant}$; e.g. $ce{^color{red}{40}_19K}$ and $ce{^color{red}{40}_20Ca}$, or $ce{^color{red}{3}_2He}$ and $ce{^color{red}{3}_1H}$ are isobars). Not nearly as mainstream as isotopes, but isobars are important to consider when doing mass spectroscopy.



    Extra fact: For nuclei of the same number of neutrons ($A - Z = N = mathrm{constant}$), the term is isotones.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited 7 hours ago

























    answered 2 days ago









    A.K.

    8,14441861




    8,14441861








    • 2




      People who don't know as much as A.K. often use "isotope" to mean "you know, like, carbon-14 or something", i.e. all nuclei with a given pair of values for $Z,,N$. In case anyone's curious, the term you want for that is nuclide.
      – J.G.
      2 days ago
















    • 2




      People who don't know as much as A.K. often use "isotope" to mean "you know, like, carbon-14 or something", i.e. all nuclei with a given pair of values for $Z,,N$. In case anyone's curious, the term you want for that is nuclide.
      – J.G.
      2 days ago










    2




    2




    People who don't know as much as A.K. often use "isotope" to mean "you know, like, carbon-14 or something", i.e. all nuclei with a given pair of values for $Z,,N$. In case anyone's curious, the term you want for that is nuclide.
    – J.G.
    2 days ago






    People who don't know as much as A.K. often use "isotope" to mean "you know, like, carbon-14 or something", i.e. all nuclei with a given pair of values for $Z,,N$. In case anyone's curious, the term you want for that is nuclide.
    – J.G.
    2 days ago












    up vote
    12
    down vote













    I believe the definition you found may have been a little bit misleading. Here is another definition of isobar I found: each of two or more isotopes of different elements, with the same atomic weight. An isobar is referring to completely different elements. The prefix iso- means only one component must be the same between the different elements, and in the case of an isobar: mass.



    I saw in your question the example that an isobar of carbon-13 would look like so $ce{^13C(p:7, n:6)}$; however, this is not proper notation, as an isobar cannot be of the same element. Once the number of protons changes, your element is no longer the same.



    Isobars are simply two different elements with the same mass while isotopes are two of the same elements with different masses.






    share|improve this answer



























      up vote
      12
      down vote













      I believe the definition you found may have been a little bit misleading. Here is another definition of isobar I found: each of two or more isotopes of different elements, with the same atomic weight. An isobar is referring to completely different elements. The prefix iso- means only one component must be the same between the different elements, and in the case of an isobar: mass.



      I saw in your question the example that an isobar of carbon-13 would look like so $ce{^13C(p:7, n:6)}$; however, this is not proper notation, as an isobar cannot be of the same element. Once the number of protons changes, your element is no longer the same.



      Isobars are simply two different elements with the same mass while isotopes are two of the same elements with different masses.






      share|improve this answer

























        up vote
        12
        down vote










        up vote
        12
        down vote









        I believe the definition you found may have been a little bit misleading. Here is another definition of isobar I found: each of two or more isotopes of different elements, with the same atomic weight. An isobar is referring to completely different elements. The prefix iso- means only one component must be the same between the different elements, and in the case of an isobar: mass.



        I saw in your question the example that an isobar of carbon-13 would look like so $ce{^13C(p:7, n:6)}$; however, this is not proper notation, as an isobar cannot be of the same element. Once the number of protons changes, your element is no longer the same.



        Isobars are simply two different elements with the same mass while isotopes are two of the same elements with different masses.






        share|improve this answer














        I believe the definition you found may have been a little bit misleading. Here is another definition of isobar I found: each of two or more isotopes of different elements, with the same atomic weight. An isobar is referring to completely different elements. The prefix iso- means only one component must be the same between the different elements, and in the case of an isobar: mass.



        I saw in your question the example that an isobar of carbon-13 would look like so $ce{^13C(p:7, n:6)}$; however, this is not proper notation, as an isobar cannot be of the same element. Once the number of protons changes, your element is no longer the same.



        Isobars are simply two different elements with the same mass while isotopes are two of the same elements with different masses.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 2 days ago









        Martin - マーチン

        33.1k9104224




        33.1k9104224










        answered 2 days ago









        ELI JONES

        1365




        1365






















            up vote
            8
            down vote













            Isobar is of more interest to physics than chemistry.



            As others have explained, your definition is confusing. The one here may be clearer: isobar (Wikipedia).



            In chemistry, the number of protons is most significant since it determines the number of electrons and hence the chemical behaviour. The number of neutrons is relatively unimportant: variants may be useful for labeling and may have slightly different behaviour (most noticeable for $ce{^1H}$ and $ce{^2H}$). So, isotope is used fairly frequently to discuss these variants of the elements. Isobars may have very different chemical behaviour and are unlikely to be an interesting grouping.



            In nuclear physics, the number of neutrons and protons have a similar significance hence the term nuclide (Wikipedia) for atoms with a specific number of protons and neutrons is useful. Isobars have a closer connection with each other than isotopes since isobars can interconvert via beta processes relatively easily. It is rare for an atom to decay into an isotope. For example, $ce{^{14}C}$ decays into $ce{^{14}N}$ rather than $ce{^{13}C}$ .



            Isobars will be relevant in some specific situations in chemistry such mass spectroscopy. So, it is still useful to understand the concept.






            share|improve this answer























            • Thank you for the explanation. Yes, your right, this question is more of a physical topic than chemical topic, but since the first time I heard about it was in chemistry I mixed it up. Thank you for pointing that out. I will look into the right stackexchange next time.
              – Beatrice H.
              2 days ago






            • 2




              @BeatriceHurbean I'm sure isobar is discussed more in physics than chemistry, but as Loong's related post suggestion shows isobars are important to consider in mass spectroscopy, so very much a chemistry topic too.
              – A.K.
              2 days ago








            • 1




              @A.K. Thanks - a good point.
              – badjohn
              2 days ago















            up vote
            8
            down vote













            Isobar is of more interest to physics than chemistry.



            As others have explained, your definition is confusing. The one here may be clearer: isobar (Wikipedia).



            In chemistry, the number of protons is most significant since it determines the number of electrons and hence the chemical behaviour. The number of neutrons is relatively unimportant: variants may be useful for labeling and may have slightly different behaviour (most noticeable for $ce{^1H}$ and $ce{^2H}$). So, isotope is used fairly frequently to discuss these variants of the elements. Isobars may have very different chemical behaviour and are unlikely to be an interesting grouping.



            In nuclear physics, the number of neutrons and protons have a similar significance hence the term nuclide (Wikipedia) for atoms with a specific number of protons and neutrons is useful. Isobars have a closer connection with each other than isotopes since isobars can interconvert via beta processes relatively easily. It is rare for an atom to decay into an isotope. For example, $ce{^{14}C}$ decays into $ce{^{14}N}$ rather than $ce{^{13}C}$ .



            Isobars will be relevant in some specific situations in chemistry such mass spectroscopy. So, it is still useful to understand the concept.






            share|improve this answer























            • Thank you for the explanation. Yes, your right, this question is more of a physical topic than chemical topic, but since the first time I heard about it was in chemistry I mixed it up. Thank you for pointing that out. I will look into the right stackexchange next time.
              – Beatrice H.
              2 days ago






            • 2




              @BeatriceHurbean I'm sure isobar is discussed more in physics than chemistry, but as Loong's related post suggestion shows isobars are important to consider in mass spectroscopy, so very much a chemistry topic too.
              – A.K.
              2 days ago








            • 1




              @A.K. Thanks - a good point.
              – badjohn
              2 days ago













            up vote
            8
            down vote










            up vote
            8
            down vote









            Isobar is of more interest to physics than chemistry.



            As others have explained, your definition is confusing. The one here may be clearer: isobar (Wikipedia).



            In chemistry, the number of protons is most significant since it determines the number of electrons and hence the chemical behaviour. The number of neutrons is relatively unimportant: variants may be useful for labeling and may have slightly different behaviour (most noticeable for $ce{^1H}$ and $ce{^2H}$). So, isotope is used fairly frequently to discuss these variants of the elements. Isobars may have very different chemical behaviour and are unlikely to be an interesting grouping.



            In nuclear physics, the number of neutrons and protons have a similar significance hence the term nuclide (Wikipedia) for atoms with a specific number of protons and neutrons is useful. Isobars have a closer connection with each other than isotopes since isobars can interconvert via beta processes relatively easily. It is rare for an atom to decay into an isotope. For example, $ce{^{14}C}$ decays into $ce{^{14}N}$ rather than $ce{^{13}C}$ .



            Isobars will be relevant in some specific situations in chemistry such mass spectroscopy. So, it is still useful to understand the concept.






            share|improve this answer














            Isobar is of more interest to physics than chemistry.



            As others have explained, your definition is confusing. The one here may be clearer: isobar (Wikipedia).



            In chemistry, the number of protons is most significant since it determines the number of electrons and hence the chemical behaviour. The number of neutrons is relatively unimportant: variants may be useful for labeling and may have slightly different behaviour (most noticeable for $ce{^1H}$ and $ce{^2H}$). So, isotope is used fairly frequently to discuss these variants of the elements. Isobars may have very different chemical behaviour and are unlikely to be an interesting grouping.



            In nuclear physics, the number of neutrons and protons have a similar significance hence the term nuclide (Wikipedia) for atoms with a specific number of protons and neutrons is useful. Isobars have a closer connection with each other than isotopes since isobars can interconvert via beta processes relatively easily. It is rare for an atom to decay into an isotope. For example, $ce{^{14}C}$ decays into $ce{^{14}N}$ rather than $ce{^{13}C}$ .



            Isobars will be relevant in some specific situations in chemistry such mass spectroscopy. So, it is still useful to understand the concept.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 2 days ago

























            answered 2 days ago









            badjohn

            461111




            461111












            • Thank you for the explanation. Yes, your right, this question is more of a physical topic than chemical topic, but since the first time I heard about it was in chemistry I mixed it up. Thank you for pointing that out. I will look into the right stackexchange next time.
              – Beatrice H.
              2 days ago






            • 2




              @BeatriceHurbean I'm sure isobar is discussed more in physics than chemistry, but as Loong's related post suggestion shows isobars are important to consider in mass spectroscopy, so very much a chemistry topic too.
              – A.K.
              2 days ago








            • 1




              @A.K. Thanks - a good point.
              – badjohn
              2 days ago


















            • Thank you for the explanation. Yes, your right, this question is more of a physical topic than chemical topic, but since the first time I heard about it was in chemistry I mixed it up. Thank you for pointing that out. I will look into the right stackexchange next time.
              – Beatrice H.
              2 days ago






            • 2




              @BeatriceHurbean I'm sure isobar is discussed more in physics than chemistry, but as Loong's related post suggestion shows isobars are important to consider in mass spectroscopy, so very much a chemistry topic too.
              – A.K.
              2 days ago








            • 1




              @A.K. Thanks - a good point.
              – badjohn
              2 days ago
















            Thank you for the explanation. Yes, your right, this question is more of a physical topic than chemical topic, but since the first time I heard about it was in chemistry I mixed it up. Thank you for pointing that out. I will look into the right stackexchange next time.
            – Beatrice H.
            2 days ago




            Thank you for the explanation. Yes, your right, this question is more of a physical topic than chemical topic, but since the first time I heard about it was in chemistry I mixed it up. Thank you for pointing that out. I will look into the right stackexchange next time.
            – Beatrice H.
            2 days ago




            2




            2




            @BeatriceHurbean I'm sure isobar is discussed more in physics than chemistry, but as Loong's related post suggestion shows isobars are important to consider in mass spectroscopy, so very much a chemistry topic too.
            – A.K.
            2 days ago






            @BeatriceHurbean I'm sure isobar is discussed more in physics than chemistry, but as Loong's related post suggestion shows isobars are important to consider in mass spectroscopy, so very much a chemistry topic too.
            – A.K.
            2 days ago






            1




            1




            @A.K. Thanks - a good point.
            – badjohn
            2 days ago




            @A.K. Thanks - a good point.
            – badjohn
            2 days ago










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