The following Questions on oxygen....

go to the the Isotopes section of Dynamic Periodic Table.

Oxygen:

Click on your chosen element and discover the "stable isotopes" that exist for that element.

Use the equation editor to write the isotopic notation of the stable isotopes, then choose one unstable isotope and write the isotopic notation.

Research and explain why an isotope would be unstable. How does an unstable isotope convert to a stable one? This information is indicated in the Dynamic Period Table and is mentioned in section 2.3 of the text.

Go to the PhET simulation, Isotopes and Atomic Mass.

In the isotopes menu, build one of the stable isotopes and a chosen unstable isotope.

Does this simulation help you see why an isotope would be unstable?

In that same simulation, go to the "Mixtures" menu. Choose your element, and "Nature's Mix".

Embed a screen shot of the particulate view of nature's mix.

What is this view trying to convey?

Research the most common "ion(s)" for your chosen element.

Are the ions "anions" or "cations"? Explain the difference between these terms.

Write the isotopic notation for the most common ion, including the charge value.

Section 2.3 also discusses mass spectrometry.

Discuss this method, its uses and applications, and create a sketch, like that in Figure 2.15, for the mass distribution of your chosen elements isotopes to include in your post.

Explain the significance of the height of the bars in the mass spectrograph.