Atom X has 17 protons and 18 neutrons. Atom Y has 17 protons and 20 neutrons.
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Atom X has protons and neutrons. Atom Y has protons and neutrons.
- Are they isotopes? Give the reason.
- Will they have the same chemical properties? Why?
- Name the element, and write the mass number of each atom.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Isotopes are atoms of the same element, with the same and a different . They have the same electrons, so the same chemical properties. Isobars are atoms of different elements with the same and a different . The mass of a molecule is the sum of the masses of its atoms.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) Yes. Both have protons, so the same atomic number, but different numbers of neutrons.
Step 2. (b) Yes. Both have electrons arranged , and the electrons decide how an atom reacts.
Step 3. (c) is chlorine. X: . Y: .
Answer: isotopes of chlorine, chlorine-35 and chlorine-37, with the same chemical properties.
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