Question 1: Define an isotope in your own words.

Answer: An isotope is a variant of a chemical element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

Question 2: Explain why isotopes of the same element have identical chemical properties but different physical properties.

Answer: Because they have the same electronic configuration and number of protons, they behave similarly chemically, but different neutron numbers affect their mass and physical characteristics.

Question 3: Calculate the relative atomic mass of an element that has 80% of its isotopes as 35Cl (mass number 35) and 20% as 37Cl (mass number 37).

Answer: Relative atomic mass = (0.80 × 35) + (0.20 × 37) = 28 + 7.4 = 35.4

Question 4: Describe a simple method to identify different isotopes of an element in a laboratory setting.

Answer: Using mass spectrometry, which separates isotopes based on their mass-to-charge ratio, allowing identification of different isotopic compositions.

Question 5: Which of the following elements has isotopes with the greatest difference in mass numbers? A) Carbon B) Sulphur C) Chlorine D) Oxygen

Answer: B) Sulphur

Question 6: Fill in the blank: The atomic number of an element indicates the number of ______ in the atom.

Answer: protons

Question 7: Explain how isotopic abundance affects the calculation of an element's average atomic mass.

Answer: Isotopic abundance determines the weighted contribution of each isotope to the average atomic mass; higher abundance means a greater influence on the average.

Question 8: Describe a practical application where knowing about isotopes is crucial.

Answer: In medical imaging, such as PET scans, radioactive isotopes are used as tracers to diagnose and monitor diseases, relying on their unique radioactive properties.

Question 9: Identify the safety precautions that should be taken when working with radioactive isotopes in a laboratory setting.

Answer: Using appropriate shielding, wearing protective clothing and gloves, working in designated radioactive areas, and following proper waste disposal procedures are essential safety precautions.

Question 10: Discuss how isotopic analysis can be used to determine the age of a geological sample.

Answer: Isotopic analysis, such as measuring the ratio of parent to daughter isotopes in a mineral, allows calculation of the time elapsed since the mineral formed, thus estimating the sample's age through radiometric dating.