What distinguishes an isotope of an element from its standard form?
ChemistryClass 11CBSEAnswered 18 May 2026
Answer
An isotope of an element has the same number of protons (and thus the same atomic number) but a different number of neutrons, leading to a different mass number.
Isotopes are atoms of the same element that differ in their neutron count. Because the number of protons defines the element, isotopes of the same element will have identical chemical properties but may vary in physical properties due to their mass difference.
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