Question
Explain with an example: Isotopes, why are they similar in chemical properties?
Answer
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. They are similar in chemical properties because they have the same number of valence electrons, which determine an element’s chemical behaviour. For example, carbon-12 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon, and they both react with oxygen to form carbon dioxide.
