Question

Physical properties of isotopes of chlorine are different but its chemical properties and similar

Answer 1

Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons and electrons. Both the isotopes of chlorine, ³⁵Cl₁₇ and ³⁷Cl₁₇ have 17 protons and electrons. They differ in the number of neutrons present in their atoms. Chemical properties are defined by the number of electrons and as isotopes have the same number of electrons, they have similar chemical properties. Physical properties like mass depend on the number of neutrons. Physical properties of isotopes of chlorine are different as they have different number of neutrons.