Use isotope notation correctly when writing or interpreting nuclear equations.

Isotope notation is a standardized way to represent isotopes of elements in nuclear equations. It includes the element's symbol, the mass number (total number of protons and neutrons) as a superscript, and the atomic number (number of protons) as a subscript. For example, carbon-14 is written as ¹⁴C, where 14 is the mass number and 6 is the atomic number (not shown in the symbol). This notation is crucial for accurately depicting nuclear reactions, as it helps to track changes in atomic and mass numbers during processes like alpha and beta decay.