Nuclide vs. Nucleus — What's the Difference?

Specific type of atomic nucleus.

Determinant of chemical identity.

Identified by neutron and proton count.

Also contains neutrons, except in ordinary hydrogen.

Isotopic identity of elements.

Central core of an atom.

Basis for radioactive dating techniques.

Contains positively charged protons.

Defined by nuclear properties.

Subject to nuclear forces.

A nuclide (or nucleide, from nucleus, also known as nuclear species) is a class of atoms characterized by their number of protons, Z, their number of neutrons, N, and their nuclear energy state.The word nuclide was coined by Truman P. Kohman in 1947. Kohman defined nuclide as a "species of atom characterized by the constitution of its nucleus" containing a certain number of neutrons and protons.

A central or essential part around which other parts are gathered or grouped; a core

A type of atom specified by its atomic number, atomic mass, and energy state, such as carbon-14.

Something regarded as a basis for future development and growth; a kernel

(physics) An atomic nucleus specified by its atomic number and atomic mass.

(Biology) A membrane-bound organelle within a eukaryotic cell that contains most of the cell's genetic material. DNA transcription takes place in the nucleus.

(Anatomy) A group of specialized nerve cells or a localized mass of gray matter in the brain or spinal cord.

(Physics) The positively charged central region of an atom, composed of protons and neutrons, about which negatively charged electrons orbit. Extremely small and dense, the nucleus contains almost all of the mass of an atom.

(Chemistry) A group of atoms bound in a structure, such as a benzene ring, that is resistant to alteration in chemical reactions.

The central, often brightest part of the head of a comet.

The solid part of a comet, composed of ice and smaller amounts of dust and rock.

The central, often brightest part of a galaxy.

(Meteorology) A particle on which water vapor molecules accumulate in free air to form a droplet or ice crystal.

(Linguistics) The part of a syllable having the greatest sonority. In the word middlemost (mĭdl-mōst′) the nuclei of the three syllables are (ĭ), (l), and (ō); in the Czech word krk ("neck"), the nucleus is (r).

The core, central part of something, around which other elements are assembled.

An initial part or version that will receive additions.

The massive, positively charged central part of an atom, made up of protons and neutrons. Category:en:Nuclear physics

(cytology) A large membrane-enclosed organelle found in eukaryotic cells which contains genetic material.

(neuroanatomy) A ganglion, cluster of many neuronal bodies where synapsing occurs.

The central part of a syllable, most commonly a vowel.

A kernel; hence, a central mass or point about which matter is gathered, or to which accretion is made; the central or material portion; - used both literally and figuratively.

The body or the head of a comet.

An incipient ovule of soft cellular tissue.

A body, usually spheroidal, in a eukaryotic cell, distinguished from the surrounding protoplasm by a difference in refrangibility and in behavior towards chemical reagents, which contains the chromosomal genetic material, including the chromosomal DNA. It is more or less protoplasmic, and consists of a clear fluid (achromatin) through which extends a network of fibers (chromatin) in which may be suspended a second rounded body, the nucleolus (see Nucleoplasm). See Cell division, under Division.

The tip, or earliest part, of a univalve or bivalve shell.

A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction

The positively charged dense center of an atom

A small group of indispensable persons or things;

(astronomy) the center of the head of a comet; consists of small solid particles of ice and frozen gas that vaporizes on approaching the sun to form the coma and tail

Any histologically identifiable mass of neural cell bodies in the brain or spinal cord

The nucleus is the central, dense part of an atom that contains protons and neutrons.

The number of protons in the nucleus corresponds to the element's atomic number on the periodic table.

Nuclides differ by the number of neutrons they contain, even among atoms of the same element.

While related, they are not exactly interchangeable; 'nuclide' refers to any nucleus variant, while 'isotope' refers specifically to variants of the same element's nuclei differing only in neutron number.

Isotopes are variants of the same chemical element's nuclei that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Since the nucleus contains most of an atom's mass (protons and neutrons), it is the primary contributor to the atom's overall mass.

A nuclide is a specific type of atomic nucleus defined by its number of protons and neutrons.

The stability of a nuclide depends on the ratio of neutrons to protons and the total number of nucleons.

Nuclides are essential in fields like nuclear medicine, radiometric dating, and nuclear energy.

An element is defined by the number of protons in the nucleus, while a nuclide specifies both the protons and neutrons.

Nuclear force is the interaction that holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus.

The nucleus determines the identity of an element, influencing its chemical properties and behavior.

Nuclear decay is the process by which a nuclide loses energy by emitting radiation, changing into another nuclide or element.

No, the stability of a nucleus depends on its proton-to-neutron ratio and the forces acting within the nucleus.

Yes, many nuclides are synthetically created in laboratories and used in various applications.