Question

Why do isotopes like ^35/17 Cl and ^37/17 Cl have the same chemical properties?

A) They have different numbers of protons.
B) They have different numbers of neutrons.
C) They have the same number of protons and electrons.
D) They have different atomic numbers.

Answer 1

Isotopes ^35/17 Cl and ^37/17 Cl have the same chemical properties because they both have the same number of protons and electrons, which determines their chemical behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

The isotopes ^35/17 Cl and ^37/17 Cl have the same chemical properties because they have the same number of protons and electrons. Option C is correct. The chemical behavior of an element is largely determined by its electron configuration, which is dependent on the number of protons in the nucleus, not the number of neutrons. Isotopes of an element have differing numbers of neutrons, giving them different atomic masses but not affecting their position in the periodic table or their chemical reactions. Hence, despite ^35Cl having 18 neutrons and ^37Cl having 20 neutrons, they both have 17 protons and 17 electrons, leading to identical chemical behaviors.