Question

What is the relationship between two elements if (a) one of them has 10 electrons, 10 protons, and 10 neutrons and the other has 10 electrons, 10 protons, and 12 neutrons? (b) one of them has 23 electrons, 23 protons, and 27 neutrons and the other has 24 electrons, 24 protons, and 26 neutrons?

Short answer

For the first pair (a), the two elements are isotopes of neon (Ne). For the second pair (b), they are different elements, vanadium (V) and chromium (Cr), and are consecutive elements in the periodic table.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze the Composition of the First Pair of Elements

Start by analyzing the number of electrons, protons, and neutrons in each of the first pair of elements. The first has 10 electrons, 10 protons, and 10 neutrons, which makes it neon (Ne) with a mass number of 20 (10 protons + 10 neutrons). The second has 10 electrons, 10 protons, and 12 neutrons, which also makes it neon (Ne) but with a mass number of 22 (10 protons + 12 neutrons).

Determine the Relationship of the First Pair

Since both elements have the same number of protons and electrons but differ in neutrons, this means they are isotopes of each other. Isotopes are atoms of the same element (same number of protons) that have different numbers of neutrons and consequently different mass numbers.

Analyze the Composition of the Second Pair of Elements

Look at the second pair of elements. The first has 23 electrons, 23 protons, and 27 neutrons which makes it vanadium (V) with a mass number of 50 (23 protons + 27 neutrons). The second has 24 electrons, 24 protons, and 26 neutrons, which is chromium (Cr) with a mass number of 50 (24 protons + 26 neutrons).

Determine the Relationship of the Second Pair

Given that the second pair of elements have different numbers of protons, they are different elements entirely. Thus, they do not belong to the relationship of isotopes, isobars or isotones; they are simply distinct elements with adjacent atomic numbers which makes them consecutive elements in the periodic table.

Key concepts

Understanding Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that share the same number of protons, and thus the same atomic number, but have different numbers of neutrons. This results in different mass numbers for each isotope. For instance, in the exercise provided, the pairs of elements that both have 10 protons but a different number of neutrons (10 and 12) are isotopes of the element neon.

Explaining further, every element on the periodic table is defined by its atomic number, which is the number of protons in its nucleus. However, the number of neutrons can vary. When this occurs, the atoms are still the same element, but the difference in neutron count leads to different physical and sometimes radioactive properties. Isotopes can be stable or unstable; the latter are radioactive and can decay over time.

Understanding isotopes is crucial not just in chemistry, but also in fields like archaeology for carbon dating, medicine for diagnostic imaging, and energy production in nuclear reactors. Isotopes play a fundamental role in our understanding of the natural world and the technological applications derived from this knowledge.

Atomic Structure Basics

The atomic structure refers to the organization of subatomic particles in an atom, which includes protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and neutrons form the nucleus at the center of the atom, while electrons orbit around the nucleus at various energy levels.

The atomic number of an element, represented by the number of protons in the nucleus, is uniquely characteristic of that element. Meanwhile, the mass number is the sum of protons and neutrons, giving us an idea of the atom's overall 'weight'.

The Subatomic Particles

• Protons: Positively charged particles in the nucleus.
• Neutrons: Neutral particles that add mass to the nucleus.
• Electrons: Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus.

The balance between these particles is delicate. Changing the number of neutrons creates different isotopes, and altering the number of protons leads to a completely different element. Electrons can be gained or lost in chemical reactions, leading to ions. The atomic structure is the foundation upon which we understand chemical reactivity, bonding, and the physical properties of matter.

Periodic Table Unveiled

The periodic table is an organized chart of all known chemical elements, arranged by increasing atomic number from left to right and grouped by similar chemical properties into columns known as 'groups'. Each element's position on the table provides valuable information about its properties, electron configurations, and reactivity.

In the context of our exercise, the periodic table helps to clarify the relationships between different elements and their isotopes. Elements are presented in such a way that ones with similar properties fall into the same column, while periods, or rows, indicate elements with the same number of electron shells.

An important aspect brought to light by the periodic table is the trend in properties a group of consecutive elements may have. For example, vanadium (V) and chromium (Cr), from the exercise, are consecutive elements, which means they are adjacent to each other on the table. This adjaceness signals a gradual shift in properties and can affect how they react chemically.The periodic table is an essential tool for chemists and is instrumental in predicting the characteristics of elements and how they might interact with others. It's a map of the building blocks of the universe and a guide for understanding the myriad of ways in which they come together to form the world around us.