Question

Why do isotopes of an element have similar chemical properties?

Answer 1

Isotopes are actually such elements within which atoms may not be identical due to different atomic mass.

Like within Hydrogen, there are three isotopes

1. Protium

Proton = 1, Electron = 1 and Neutron = 0
Atomic mass = 1 + 0 = 1 g/mol

2. Deuterium

Proton = 1, Electron = 1 and Neutron = 1
Atomic mass = 1 + 1 = 2 g/mol

3. Tritium

Proton = 1, Electron = 1 and Neutron = 2
Atomic mass = 1 + 2 = 3 g/mol

[Atomic mass = No. of proton + no. of neutrons]

This concludes that isotopes share same atomic number ( proton and electron ) but different atomic masses ( due to different no. of neutrons ) therefore they show same chemical properties.