Answer to Question #210773 in Mechanics | Relativity for Hailey

Question

What are isotopes? Why do isotopes of the same atom share the same chemical properties? 

Answer 1

Many isotopes occur naturally. Usually one or two isotopes of an element are the most stable and common. Different isotopes of an element generally have the same physical and chemical properties because they have the same numbers of protons and electrons .

This is because isotopes of an element have the same number of electrons as an atom of that element.But they have different number of neutrons which affects the mass number. Mass number determines the physical properties. Hence isotopes have similar chemical properties but different physical properties

Hydrogen is an example of an element that has isotopes.

(a)Protium

Proton=1

Neutron=0

(b)Deuterium

Proton=1

Neutron=1

(c)

Tritium

Proton=1

Neutron=2

Three isotopes of hydrogen are modeled in Figure Most hydrogen atoms have just one proton, one electron, and lack a neutron. These atoms are just called hydrogen. Some hydrogen atoms have one neutron as well. These atoms are the isotope named deuterium. Other hydrogen atoms have two neutrons. These atoms are the isotope named tritium.