A table of nuclides or chart of nuclides is a graphic in which nuclides are drawn such that one axis represents the number of neutrons and the other axis represents the number of protons, which defines the element. This system of ordering nuclides can offer a greater insight into the characteristics of isotopes than the more well-known periodic table, which shows only elements instead of each of their isotopes.
A chart or table of nuclides (capitalization optional) is a simple map to the nuclear, or radioactive, behaviour of nuclides, as it distinguishes the isotopes of an element. It contrasts with a periodic table, which only maps their chemical behavior, since isotopes of the same element do not differ chemically. Nuclide charts organize isotopes along the X axis by their numbers of neutrons and along the Y axis by their numbers of protons, out to the limits of the neutron and proton drip lines. This representation was first published by Giorgio Fea in 1935,[1] and expanded by Emilio Segrè in 1945. It has since become a basic tool of the nuclear community.
Isotopes are nuclides with a different number of neutrons but which have the same number of protons (that is, they have the same atomic number and are therefore the same chemical element). Isotopes neighbor each other vertically in the Wikipedia articles listed below. Example: Carbon-12, Carbon-13, and Carbon-14 in the sample table above.
Isotones are nuclides with different numbers of protons but the same number of neutrons. Isotones neighbor each other horizontally in the Wikipedia articles listed below. Example: Carbon-14, Nitrogen-15, Oxygen-16 in the sample table above.
Isobars are nuclides with different numbers of protons and the opposite difference with their neutrons. Isobars have the same mass number and neighbor each diagonally from lower-left to upper-right in the Wikipedia articles listed below. Example: Carbon-14, Nitrogen-14, Oxygen-14 in the sample table above.
The neutron drip line is the boundary limiting nuclides on the lower left.
The proton drip line is the boundary limiting nuclides on the upper right. (At higher masses, not all nuclides within the drip lines have been discovered.)
The island of stability is a hypothetical region of the table of nuclides that contains isotopes far more stable than other transuranic elements.
Presents the data via a single, contiguous chart that requires both vertical and horizontal scrolling to view all its contents (262 KB total HTML download).
Presents the data via four separate charts, each typically with 30 elements. Depending on the browser, no horizontal scrolling is required in window widths of at least 1225 to 1440 pixels (311 KB total HTML download).
Presents the data via eight separate charts, each typically with 15 elements. Horizontal scrolling is not required for all but the smallest computer monitors (321 KB total HTML download).
Provides both the eight-chart, segmented presentation and the single, contiguous chart. Provides quick-jump hyperlinks to jump between the two. Features expanded introductory text for first-time readers. (588 KB total HTML download).
