Question

Give one similarity and one dissimilarity between a pair of isotopes.

Answer 1

Isotopes:

• The isotopes of an element have the same atomic number but different atomic masses.
• The difference in their masses is due to the presence of the different numbers of neutrons.

Two isotopes of sodium are${}_{11}{}^{}\mathrm{Na}^{23}\mathrm{and}{}_{11}{}^{}\mathrm{Na}^{24}$.

One similarity between this pair of isotopes is- Same chemical properties as they have the same number of the valence electrons in the valence shell.

One dissimilarity between this pair of isotopes- Different physical properties as they have different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus.