a term that is used to describe (only) different nuclear forms of the same element is
Isotope A nuclide is a species of an atom with a specific number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, for example carbon-13 with 6 protons and 7 neutrons. The nuclide concept (referring to individual nuclear species) emphasizes nuclear properties over chemical properties, whereas the isotope concept (grouping all atoms of each element) emphasizes chemical over nuclear. The neutron number has large effects on nuclear properties, but its effect on chemical properties is negligible for most elements. Even in the case of the lightest elements where the ratio of neutron number to atomic number varies the most between isotopes it usually has only a small effect, although it does matter in some circumstances (for hydrogen, the lightest element, the isotope effect is large enough to strongly affect biology). The term isotopes (originally also isotopic elements[1], now sometimes isotopic nuclides[2]) is intended to imply comparison (like synonyms or isomers), for example: the nuclides 12 6C, 13 6C, 14 6C are isotopes (nuclides with the same atomic number but different mass numbers[3]), but 40 18Ar, 40 19K, 40 20Ca are isobars (nuclides with the same mass number[4]). However, because isotope is the older term, it is better known than nuclide, and is still sometimes used in contexts where nuclide might be more appropriate, such as nuclear technology and nuclear medicine.