Chapter 2: Problem 89
In which one of the following pairs do the two species resemble each other most closely in chemical properties: (a) \({ }_{1}^{1} \mathrm{H}\) and \({ }_{1}^{1} \mathrm{H}^{+},\) (b) \({ }_{7}^{14} \mathrm{~N}\) and \({ }_{7}^{14} \mathrm{~N}^{3-},(\mathrm{c}){ }_{6}^{12} \mathrm{C}\) and \({ }_{6}^{13} \mathrm{C} ?\) Explain.
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Isotopes
For instance, Carbon-12 and Carbon-13 are isotopes of carbon. Both have 6 protons, which define the element as carbon, but Carbon-12 has 6 neutrons while Carbon-13 has 7 neutrons. Despite this difference, their chemical properties are almost identical because chemical behavior is largely determined by electron configuration rather than the nucleus composition with neutrons.
Understanding isotopes is crucial in fields like chemistry and nuclear physics. They help when analyzing radioactive decay and in techniques like carbon dating. Isotopes form the backbone of understanding atomic mass and mass spectrometry methods.
Ions
For example, when a Hydrogen atom loses its single electron, it becomes a positively charged Hydrogen ion ( ext{H}^{+}). This change in electron count significantly affects its chemical properties because the ion interacts differently with other particles compared to its neutral state.
Identifying ions and understanding their behavior is a key concept in chemistry. Ions play a central role in many chemical reactions, such as those in batteries, electrolytes, and in biological systems like nerve impulses.
Neutrons
While neutrons do not affect the chemical properties directly—instead, that is the job of electrons and protons—they do influence atomic stability and mass. The number of neutrons can vary within atoms of the same element, creating isotopes. This is critical in nuclear reactions and radioactive isotopes.
In essence, neutrons act as the glue in the atomic nucleus, stabilizing it by offsetting the repulsive forces between like-charged protons. The delicate balance of neutrons in the nucleus ensures the behavior and stability of an atom.