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Isotope

2 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means one of two or more forms of an element

Where does the word "isotope" come from? It comes from Greek isos topos, adopted directly into English (1913).

1
Stage 1 of 2
isos topos
Greek · ancient
"same place"
Greek: same place in the periodic table
2
Stage 2 of 2
isotope
English · 1913
"same-element variant"
coined by Margaret Todd for the chemist Frederick Soddy
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Isotope’s story begins in Greek: isos topos meant “same place.” Greek: same place in the periodic table. It reached English by 1913 as isotope. Coined by Margaret Todd for the chemist Frederick Soddy. Today, isotope means one of two or more forms of an element.