February 1, 2018 (Vol. 38, No. 3)
URL:
Rating:
Strong Points: Many different languages, user-friendly interface
Weak Points: None
Platform:
iPhone/iPad/Android
Cost:
Free
Summary:
Provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Isotope Browser app is a useful chemistry resource that provides information on over 4,000 chemical isotopes (or “nuclides,” if one is generally referring to isotopes of many different atomic elements). From the home screen, users can browse the nuclides via a somewhat daunting all-inclusive chart, or by the more familiar Periodic Table as the starting point. From the Periodic Table, users can select a given element to display the associated isotopes. Tapping on a specific isotope reveals a great deal of chemical information about that entry, such as half-life, binding energy, and decay radiations. Users can also choose to search the collection of nuclides from the home screen by element (either using the letter abbreviation or atomic number), or they can use the “expert” search to provide detailed specifications with their query. The app includes ten different language settings and a guide with data sources given is also included.
