Article
Article
Isobar (nuclear physics)
Article By:
Duckworth, Henry E. Formerly, Department of Physics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Last reviewed:August 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.354650
One of two or more atoms which have a common mass number A but which differ in atomic number Z. Thus, although isobars possess approximately equal masses, they differ in chemical properties; they are atoms of different elements. Isobars whose atomic numbers differ by unity cannot both be stable; one will inevitably decay into the other by β− emission (Z→Z + 1), β+ emission (Z → Z – 1), or electron capture (Z →Z − 1). There are many examples of stable isobaric pairs, such as 50Ti (Z = 24) and 50Cr (Z = 26), and four examples of stable isobaric triplets. At most values of A the number of known radioactive isobars exceeds the number of stable ones. See also: Electron capture; Radioactivity
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