International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Chemistry Practice Exam

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Why do isotopes have the same chemical properties?

  1. Isotopes have the same number of neutrons

  2. Isotopes have the same number of electrons

  3. Isotopes have the same mass

  4. Isotopes are in different states of matter

The correct answer is: Isotopes have the same number of electrons

Isotopes have the same chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons. Chemical properties are primarily determined by the arrangement of electrons and the behavior of the outermost electrons, which are involved in chemical bonding and reactions. Since isotopes of an element have the same atomic number, they also possess the same number of electrons, leading to identical reactivity and chemical behavior. While isotopes differ in their number of neutrons, which affects their mass and stability, this does not influence their chemical properties. Similarly, being in different states of matter or having the same mass does not guarantee that chemical properties will be alike. Thus, the defining characteristic that enables isotopes to exhibit the same chemical properties lies in their electron configuration.

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