Atomic Structure

Question 1

What do isotopes of the same element have?

Answer 1

• Different masses
• Same number of protons and electrons
• Different number of neutrons

Question 2

What does isotope mean in Greek?

Answer 2

At the same place

Question 3

What does isotope mean?

Answer 3

Different atoms of same element occupying same position in periodic table

Question 4

Why is the overall charge of an atom 0?

Answer 4

Each isotope must have the same amount of electrons as protons

Question 5

Why do different isotopes of the same element react in the same way?

Answer 5

• Chemical reactions involve electrons, and isotopes have same number and arrangement of electrons
• Neutrons make no difference to chemical reactivity

Question 6

Why are ions charged?

Answer 6

Have an unbalanced number of protons and electrons, so charges no longer cancel each other out