Oxygen-17 facts for kids
| General | |
|---|---|
| Symbol | 17O |
| Names | oxygen-17, O-17 |
| Protons | 8 |
| Neutrons | 9 |
| Nuclide data | |
| Natural abundance | 0.0373% SMOW 0.0377421% (atmosphere) |
| Half-life | stable |
| Isotope mass | 16.9991315 u |
| Spin | +5/2 |
| Excess energy | -809 keV |
| Binding energy | 131763 keV |
| -2.760 | |
| Oxygen Complete table of nuclides |
|
Oxygen-17 (17O) is a special kind of oxygen atom. It is a natural and stable isotope of oxygen. This means it does not change into other elements over time. Oxygen-17 is not very common, making up only about 0.0373% of the oxygen found in seawater. This amount is roughly twice as much as another special atom called deuterium.
Contents
What is an Isotope?
An isotope is like a different version of the same element. All atoms of an element have the same number of protons. What makes isotopes different is the number of neutrons they have. For example, all oxygen atoms have 8 protons. But they can have different numbers of neutrons.
Oxygen's Different Forms
Most oxygen atoms are Oxygen-16, which has 8 protons and 8 neutrons. Oxygen-17, however, has 8 protons and 9 neutrons. There is also Oxygen-18, which has 8 protons and 10 neutrons. Even though they have different numbers of neutrons, they are all still oxygen. They behave almost the same way in chemical reactions.
Why is Oxygen-17 Important?
Oxygen-17 is important because it is stable. This means it lasts a very long time. Scientists can use stable isotopes like Oxygen-17 to study many things. They can track how water moves through the environment. They can also learn about past climates by looking at the oxygen isotopes in ice cores or ancient rocks.
Where is Oxygen-17 Found?
You can find Oxygen-17 in many places where oxygen is present. It is in the air we breathe and in the water we drink. It is also in the oceans and in the bodies of living things. Its small but steady presence makes it a useful tool for scientific research.
