1.3 - Isotopes and RAM

Question 1

What are isotopes

Answer 1

Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Most elements are made up of a mixture of isotopes.

Question 2

Physical properties of isotopes

Answer 2

• Isotopes have slightly different physical properties (e.g. mass and density).
• This is because physical properties depend on atomic mass.

Question 3

What are elements:

Answer 3

Substance made up of only one type of atom, where all the atoms of a substance have the same number of protons.

Question 4

Chemical properties of isotopes

Answer 4

• Isotopes have the same electron configuration.
• This means they have the same chemical properties (e.g. reactivity).

Question 5

Calculating RAM of Cl from isotopes:

Answer 5

Question 6

Definition of Relative isotopic mass

Answer 6

The mass of an atom of an isotope compared to 1/12 the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

Question 7

Relative Atomic Mass

Answer 7

The weighted mean mass of an atom of an element compared to 1/12 the mass of a carbon-12 atom Ar is an average of the masses of all the isotopes of an element, weighted according to their natural abundance

Question 8

Relative Molecular Mass

Answer 8

The average mass of a molecule compared to 1/12 the mass of a carbon-12 atom.

Question 9

Calculating RAM from isotopes

Answer 9