An isotope is one of the different possible forms of an atom of the same simple substance (the same element). The atoms still count as that element because the number of plus-charges in the middle is the same, so they sit in the same place on the chart of elements; they differ in how many extra uncharged bits they carry, so some are a little heavier than others.

Anisotope同位素 is one of the different possible forms of an atom of the same simple substance是同一種簡單物質的原子,可能出現的不同形式之一 (the same element)(同一種元素). The atoms still count as that element這些原子之所以還算同一種元素 because the number of plus-charges in the middle is the same是因為中間帶正電的數量一樣, so they sit in the same place on the chart of elements所以它們在元素週期表上的位置相同; they differ in how many extra uncharged bits they carry不同的地方在於它們帶了多少不帶電的額外粒子, so some are a little heavier than others所以有些會比另一些重一點點

Carbon, for example, has a very common isotope and a rarer one that scientists use to date old bones and wood. Some isotopes stay as they are; some slowly break down and give off energy, and those are the radioactive ones.

Carbon碳, for example舉例來說, has a very common isotope有一種很常見的isotope and a rarer one還有一種比較少見的 that scientists use to date old bones and wood科學家會用它來測定古老骨頭和木頭的年代. Some isotopes stay as they are有些isotope會一直維持原樣; some slowly break down and give off energy有些會慢慢分解、釋放能量, and those are the radioactive ones那些就是radioactive(放射性的)

Though actually, news English often uses isotope as if it meant the dangerous glowing kind. Most isotopes around you are quiet and ordinary — they are just the slightly heavier or lighter brothers of the atom you already know, not a different substance and not, by themselves, a poison or a weapon.

Though actually不過, news English often uses isotope as if it meant the dangerous glowing kind新聞英文常常把isotope用得好像它就是指那種會發光的危險東西. Most isotopes around you are quiet and ordinary其實你身邊大多數的isotope都安靜又平凡 — they are just the slightly heavier or lighter brothers of the atom you already know它們只是你早就認識的那個原子,重一點點或輕一點點的兄弟, not a different substance不是不同的物質 and not, by themselves, a poison or a weapon單獨來看也不是毒藥或武器