When does an element become a different element?
Your chem is a little rusty ichi :P, an isotope has the same number of protons and different number of neutrons...
This is what I found: If the number of protons in an atom were to change, it would become a different element. If the number of neutrons were to change, it would become a different isotope (radioisotope) of that element. If the number of electrons were to change, it would have a different electrostatic (ionic) charge of that element.
http://www.usm.maine.edu/~champlin/Courses/12308%20Chem%20Handout%20S08.htm
They don't - they may add or subtract protons, causing them to become isotopes or ions, but the element itself doesn't change, exactly...they become compounded.
Every time i am ready to play euchre card game at this platform.
When it gains or looses a proton...
by alpha or beta decay