answersLogoWhite

0

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.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Why isotopes of the same element are not considered different elements?

Isotopes of the same element have the same number of protons, which is what defines an element. The only difference between isotopes is the number of neutrons in the nucleus. Since isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties, they are not considered different elements.


What isotopes are atoms of the same elements with different number of?

Isotopes are atoms of the same elements with different number of neutrons.


Which of these atoms are isotopes 144Ce 144Nd 144Sm 145Nd?

144Nd and 145Nd are both isotopes of neodymium. Neodymium-145 is considered observationally stable. Isotopes are elements whose atoms differ in the 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


Isotopes of elements?

Isotopes of elements are atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This causes isotopes of the same element to have different atomic masses. Isotopes can be stable or unstable, with unstable isotopes undergoing radioactive decay.


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 uncharged elements have different number of what?

nuetrons


What do elements of isotopes have differently?

Because of the difference in mass number. Isotopes must have different numbers of neutrons.