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Uploaded by
Matthew B Jusuf2
Uploaded by
Matthew B JusufCambridge (CIE) AS Your notes
Chemistry
Isotopes
Contents
Isotopes
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Isotopes
Your notes
Defining Isotopes
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that contain the same number of protons and
electrons but a different number of neutrons
The name of an isotope is the chemical symbol (or word) followed by a dash and then
the mass number
E.g. carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon containing 6 and 8 neutrons
respectively
The chemical symbol of an isotope will still be shown in the usual form, as shown:
A general chemical symbol
Isotopes of the same element have the same chemical symbol with a different mass
number
For chemical symbols, isotopes have:
The same chemical symbol
e.g. isotopes of chlorine all have the symbol Cl
The same atomic number
e.g. isotopes of chlorine all have an atomic number of 17
A different mass / nucleon number
e.g. the chlorine-35 isotope has a mass number of 35, while the chlorine-37
isotope has a mass number of 37
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The atomic structure and symbols of three isotopes of
hydrogen Your notes
All three hydrogen isotopes have the chemical symbol H, the same number of protons but
a different number of neutrons
Chemical & Physical Properties of
Isotopes
Isotopes have similar chemical properties but different physical properties
Chemical properties
The chemical behaviour of an atom depends on its electron configuration, especially
the electrons in the outer (valence) shell
This is because all isotopes of the same element have the same number of electrons
and the same electron arrangement, they:
Form the same types of bonds
React with the same elements
Show identical chemical reactivity
Physical properties
Although isotopes have identical chemical properties, they differ in physical properties
because they have different numbers of neutrons
Neutrons add mass to the nucleus but carry no charge and don’t influence chemical
bonding
As a result, isotopes have:
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Different relative atomic masses
Slight differences in density Your notes
Examiner Tips and Tricks
These small differences in physical properties become important in processes
like:
Mass spectrometry (detecting different isotopes by mass)
Isotope separation (e.g. in nuclear chemistry)
Medical imaging (radioisotopes rely on differences in physical properties)
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