What are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons called?

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Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons are referred to as isotopes. Isotopes share the same atomic number, which corresponds to the number of protons, thus they belong to the same element. However, the variation in the number of neutrons results in different mass numbers for these isotopes. The presence of neutrons affects the stability and certain properties of the atom, but the chemical behavior of isotopes remains largely unchanged since they have the same electronic structure.

In contrast, ions involve changes in the number of electrons, which alters the charge of the atom instead of its mass. Molecules are formed from two or more atoms that are chemically bonded, and nucleons denote the collective term for protons and neutrons within an atomic nucleus. Understanding these distinctions clarifies why isotopes is the accurate term in this context.

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