Isotopes are variants of a chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, leading to variations in atomic mass. These isotopes exhibit similar chemical properties due to identical electron configurations. The relative abundance of isotopes can be determined through techniques like mass spectrometry, with the most common isotope usually dictating the element's properties mentioned in literature. Isotopes play a crucial role in understanding atomic structure and behavior across different elements.
What is an isotope?
Isotopes are atoms of the same element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, leading to variations in atomic mass.
How can isotopic masses be determined?
Isotopic masses can be determined using a mass spectrometer, which ionizes a substance and separates ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio.
Why do many elements have fractional atomic masses?
Elements have fractional atomic masses because atomic masses are average masses of isotopes proportional to their relative abundance.
What is the significance of even atomic numbers in isotopes?
Elements with even atomic numbers usually have a larger number of isotopes, and isotopes with mass numbers multiples of four are particularly abundant.
Why do some elements have only one isotope?
Elements like arsenic, fluorine, iodine, and gold have only one isotope, making them mono-isotopic elements due to their unique atomic structure.
Which of the following elements has only one isotope?
a) Hydrogen
b) Carbon
c) Nitrogen
d) Oxygen
Answer:a) Hydrogen
Isotopes with even atomic masses are comparatively abundant.
a) True
b) False
c) Rarely
d) Non Of These
Answer: a) True
Which of the following elements has the most stable isotopes?
a) Arsenic
b) Fluorine
c) Iodine
d) Gold
Answer: d) Gold
The atomic mass of an element is determined with reference to which standard element?
a) Oxygen
b) Carbon
c) Hydrogen
d) Nitrogen
Answer: b) Carbon
Isotopes of an element have different masses due to variations in their:
a) Protons
b) Electrons
c) Neutrons
d) Atomic number
Answer: c) Neutrons