This experiment concerns kinetics and isotopes. Isotopes are atoms of an element that differ only in the number of (electrons, neutrons, protons?) We rarely talk about isotopes unless radioactivity is involved. A radioactive isotope can emit alpha rays which are (electrons, photons, helium 4 nuclei?) beta rays which are (electrons, photons, helium 4 nuclei?) or gamma rays which are (electrons, photons, helium 4 nuclei?) Despite our rare discussion of isotopes we actually cover them very early in our study of chemistry when we learn that the Periodic Table advertises the average atomic mass of an element as a weighted average of the various isotopes. Chlorine has two isotopes: chlorine-35 massing at about 35 g/mol and chlorine-37 massing at about 37 g/mol. The average atomic mass of chlorine is 35.453 g/mol instead of being close to 36 g/mol because (Cl-37, Cl-35?) is more abundant than the other isotope. The fact that the Periodic Table reports weighted average molar masses has nothing to do with radioactivity. Isotopes can affect chemical reactions – sometimes significantly. If there is to be an impact, then the largest chemical change is likely to be observed when there is the largest difference in the isotopes. Uranium-238 is (2, 3, 1?) neutron(s) heavier than uranium-235 while deuterium (H-2) is (2, 3, 1?) neutron(s) heavier than protium (H-1). That’s an unfair comparison because uranium is a very heavy element compared to hydrogen. Instead, let's consider the PERCENT differences in weight but use the mass numbers rather than searching for the precise atomic masses or molar masses. Uranium-238 is (3.4%, 2.1%, 1.3%) heavier than uranium-235 while deuterium is (100%, 200%, 50%)  heavier than protium. On a percentage scale, there is a MUCH larger percentage difference between the hydrogen isotopes than uranium isotopes. Therefore, for interesting chemistry we should look at reactions involving isotopes of light elements, like hydrogen.

Physical Chemistry
2nd Edition
ISBN:9781133958437
Author:Ball, David W. (david Warren), BAER, Tomas
Publisher:Ball, David W. (david Warren), BAER, Tomas
Chapter9: Pre-quantum Mechanics
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 9.18E
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This experiment concerns kinetics and isotopes. Isotopes are atoms of an element that differ only in the number of (electrons, neutrons, protons?) We rarely talk about isotopes unless radioactivity is involved. A radioactive isotope can emit alpha rays which are (electrons, photons, helium 4 nuclei?) beta rays which are (electrons, photons, helium 4 nuclei?) or gamma rays which are (electrons, photons, helium 4 nuclei?) Despite our rare discussion of isotopes we actually cover them very early in our study of chemistry when we learn that the Periodic Table advertises the average atomic mass of an element as a weighted average of the various isotopes. Chlorine has two isotopes: chlorine-35 massing at about 35 g/mol and chlorine-37 massing at about 37 g/mol. The average atomic mass of chlorine is 35.453 g/mol instead of being close to 36 g/mol because (Cl-37, Cl-35?) is more abundant than the other isotope. The fact that the Periodic Table reports weighted average molar masses has nothing to do with radioactivity. Isotopes can affect chemical reactions – sometimes significantly. If there is to be an impact, then the largest chemical change is likely to be observed when there is the largest difference in the isotopes. Uranium-238 is (2, 3, 1?) neutron(s) heavier than uranium-235 while deuterium (H-2) is (2, 3, 1?) neutron(s) heavier than protium (H-1). That’s an unfair comparison because uranium is a very heavy element compared to hydrogen. Instead, let's consider the PERCENT differences in weight but use the mass numbers rather than searching for the precise atomic masses or molar masses. Uranium-238 is (3.4%, 2.1%, 1.3%) heavier than uranium-235 while deuterium is (100%, 200%, 50%)  heavier than protium. On a percentage scale, there is a MUCH larger percentage difference between the hydrogen isotopes than uranium isotopes. Therefore, for interesting chemistry we should look at reactions involving isotopes of light elements, like hydrogen.

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