Interpretation : The subatomic particles responsible for the element’s chemical reactivity are to be determined.
Concept Introduction : Atoms that have various numbers of neutrons and different masses but the same number of protons are called isotopes.
Answer to Problem 71A
The subatomic particle responsible for determining an element’s chemical reactivity is the electron.
Explanation of Solution
The isotopes are the atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons and electrons but differ in the number of neutrons.
Since the subatomic particles such as protons and electrons, which are responsible for chemical behavior, are present in equal proportions in isotopes, they are chemically similar.
The isotopes are physically different because they have a different number of neutrons for an element.
The electrons are responsible to take part in chemical reactivity, the isotopes have the same number of electrons so they are chemically alike.
Chapter 4 Solutions
Chemistry 2012 Student Edition (hard Cover) Grade 11
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