Question

Why do Isotopes have similar chemical properties ?

Answer 1

Isotopes-

• Atoms of an element, which have the same atomic number but different mass numbers are called Isotopes.
• Mass numbers vary due to changes in the number of neutrons.
• For example, hydrogen (H) has 3 Isotopes -

${}_1{}^1\mathrm{H}$ (Hydrogen) , ${}_1{}^2\mathrm{H}$ (Deuterium), ${}_1{}^3\mathrm{H}$ (Tritium)

• Isotopes have similar chemical properties because of the same number of electrons, same electronic configuration, and same valency due to which they show similar combining capacity with other elements.
• Thus, isotopes have shown similar chemical properties.