Define the term 'isotope.'

The term 'isotope' refers specifically to atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons. While the number of protons in an atom defines the element itself, variations in neutron count create different isotopes of that element, affecting their atomic mass but leaving their chemical properties largely unchanged. For example, carbon has several isotopes, including carbon-12 and carbon-14, which differ in neutron count but are both carbon atoms because they have the same number of protons. This concept is significant in various fields such as chemistry, physics, and medicine, impacting everything from nuclear processes to carbon dating.