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CAIE A-Level Chemistry 1.2.4 Physical Properties of Isotopes

Practise explaining why isotopes differ in mass and density while retaining the same chemistry.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Chemistry 9701
Level
AS

Exam points

  • link different neutron numbers to different nucleon numbers and isotopic masses
  • explain that mass-dependent physical properties such as density can differ between isotopes
  • keep the syllabus comparison limited to mass and density rather than claiming all physical properties differ

1.2.4—Isotopes of the same element have different question 1

[Maximum number: 2]

Calcium, magnesium and radium are Group 2 elements. Radium follows the same trends as the other members of Group 2.

A sample of magnesium contains three isotopes, 25Mg,26Mg{ }^{25} \mathrm{Mg},{ }^{26} \mathrm{Mg} and X.

The percentage abundance of the three isotopes is shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1

Table 1.1

State one similarity and one difference in the properties of these isotopes of magnesium. Explain your answer.

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