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Isotopes are not different elements, because they have the SAME chemical properties; the only difference is in mass. When you breathe in air, your body doesn't care - and couldn't tell - the difference between two different isotopes of oxygen or nitrogen.
But oxygen-16 burns just like oxygen-18, and carbon-12 tastes just like carbon-14.
In fact, the prefix "iso" even MEANS "same". So we consider them the same element.
Number of protons is the only thing that decide what element an atoms is. Number of electrons and neutrons only determine properties, weight, and reactivity.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoAn element is defined by the number of protons in the nucleus of that element. Isotopes have a different number of neutrons but the SAME number of protons. Thus, the element is not different. Only the Atomic Mass is different.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoIsotopes are not different elements because, despite having different numbers of neutrons, they have the same numbers of protons. Number of protons establishes an element's identity.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThe principal characteristic of an element is the number of protons; all isotopes of an element have the same number of protons.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoThey have the same number of protons and electrons and, therefore, the same chemical properties.
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Why isotopes of the same element are not considered different elements?
The only thing different with isotopes is the mass. The chemical properties are determined by the number of electrons and thus protons. These do not change with a different isotope.
What isotopes are atoms of the same elements with different number of?
Isotopes are atoms of the same elements with different number of neutrons.
Where can isotopes be found?
elements are isotopes, when different atoms of the same element have different number of neutrons
What isotopes of uncharded elements have different numbers?
The atomic number of the isotopes of an element is identical; the mass number is different.
Isotopes of elements?
Uranium has a number of isotopes including U235 and U238, both of which are radioactive
Why isotopes of the same element are not considered different elements?
The only thing different with isotopes is the mass. The chemical properties are determined by the number of electrons and thus protons. These do not change with a different isotope.
What isotopes are atoms of the same elements with different number of?
Isotopes are atoms of the same elements with different number of neutrons.
Where can isotopes be found?
elements are isotopes, when different atoms of the same element have different number of neutrons
Which elements have different isotopes?
Many elements have different isotopes: 1) Carbon - Carbon 12, Carbon 14 2) Hydrogen - Protium, Deuterium, Tritium 3) Chlorine - Chlorine 35, Chlorine 37 etc
Why the mass number of the same atom of an element is not constant?
Since you have isotopes of elements. Isotopes are elements with different number of neutrons hence why the different atomic masses for the same elements.
Do different elements have a different number isotopes?
Yes, it is true.
Isotopes of uncharged elements have different numbers of?
Isotopes differ in the number of neutrons they possess.
What isotopes of uncharded elements have different numbers?
The atomic number of the isotopes of an element is identical; the mass number is different.
Isotopes of elements?
Uranium has a number of isotopes including U235 and U238, both of which are radioactive
How are isotopes different than naturally occurring elements?
Isotopes of an element have different masses because their nuclei have different numbers of neutrons.
Isotopes of uncharged elements have different number of what?
nuetrons
Two atoms of same elements with different masses?
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