Isotopes have the same chemical properties but differ in physical properties because they differ in…

Isotopes have the same chemical properties but differ in physical properties because they differ in…

• A. protons and electrons
• B. neutrons and mass
• C. electron arrangement
• D. atomic number

Answer: (B)

Chemical properties are governed by electron arrangement, which depends on the number of protons (and electrons in a neutral atom). Isotopes have the same proton count, so they share the same electron configuration and thus react in the same way chemically. Neutrons, on the other hand, only add to the mass and do not affect charge or bonding, so changing the neutron number alters physical properties like density or mass-dependent behaviours without changing chemical reactivity. For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 behave the same in chemical reactions, but carbon-14 is heavier, leading to differences in physical properties.

Chemical properties are governed by electron arrangement, which depends on the number of protons (and electrons in a neutral atom). Isotopes have the same proton count, so they share the same electron configuration and thus react in the same way chemically. Neutrons, on the other hand, only add to the mass and do not affect charge or bonding, so changing the neutron number alters physical properties like density or mass-dependent behaviours without changing chemical reactivity. For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 behave the same in chemical reactions, but carbon-14 is heavier, leading to differences in physical properties.