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Chemistry

Define an 'isotope'. Give reasons why isotopes have same chemical but different physical properties.

Atomic Structure

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Answer

Isotopes are atoms of the same element having same atomic number but different mass numbers.

Chemical properties of isotopes of the same element are similar because chemical properties are dependent on the electronic configuration of an atom. As Isotopes have same atomic number so they have same number of electrons and hence same electronic configuration.

Physical properties of isotopes of the same element are different because physical properties are dependent on the atomic mass. Isotopes have different mass number [A], different number of neutrons and hence different atomic masses giving them different physical properties.

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