ISOTOPES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE

1. Elements that exhibit isotopy have more than one isotope.

(a) Definite isotope.

_____________________________________________________________________

(b) Give two examples of elements that exhibit isotopy.

_____________________________________________________________________

2. Bromine-79 and bromine-81 are isotopes.

(a) State two similarities of bromine-79 and bromine-81.

(i) ___________________________________________________________________

(ii)___________________________________________________________________

(b) State two differences between bromine-79 and bromine-81.

(i)___________________________________________________________________

(ii)__________________________________________________________________

3. Isotopes are very useful in many sectors. Usually, radioisotopes are involved.

(a) What is a radioisotope?

___ _________________________________________________________________

(b) State the uses of the following radioisotopes :

(i) Carbon-14. __________________________________________________________

(ii) Sodium-24. _________________________________________________________

(iii) Cobalt-60. __________________________________________________________

(iv) Phosphorus -32. _____________________________________________________

(v) Uranium-235. _______________________________________________________

4. Iodine-127 and iodine-131 are two isotopes of iodine. Table 2 below shows the number of
each subatomic particles in an atom of iodine-127.

number

Proton

Neutron

Electron

53

74

53

TABLE 2
(a) Suggest a reason why one of the isotopes of iodine is called iodine-127?
_________________________________________________________________
(b) Tabulate the number of subatomic particles found in an iodine-131 atom in a table
similar to Table 2.

(c) (i) Which isotope of iodine is used in the field of medicine to determine the health
of human thyroid gland?
________________________________________________________________
(ii) Suggest a reason for your choice in c(i).
_______________________________________________________________
(d) Isotopes of an element have the same physical and chemical properties.
The above statement is found in a students notebook and it is incorrect.
Correct the sentence and rewrite it below.
_______________________________________________________________
(e) The relative atomic mass of chlorine is 35.5. Suggest a reason to explain why
the relative atomic mass of chlorine is not a whole number or integer?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

ISOTOPES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE

ANSWERS
1. Elements that exhibit isotopy have more than one isotope.

(a) Definite isotope.

Answer:
Atoms of the same element with same proton number but different nucleon number.

(b) Give two examples of elements that exhibit isotopy.

Answer:
Carbon, chlorine, oxygen, bromine, hydrogen

2. Bromine-79 and bromine-81 are isotopes.

(a) State two similarities of bromine-79 and bromine-81.

Answer:
(i) Same proton number
(ii) Same chemical properties

(b) State two differences between bromine-79 and bromine-81.

Answer:
(i) Different nucleon number
(ii) Different chemical properties

3. Isotopes are very useful in many sectors. Usually, radioisotopes are involved.

(a) What is a radioisotope?

Answer:
Unstable isotopes that will decompose spontaneously by emitting radioactive rays
to become more stable isotopes.

(b) State the uses of the following radioisotopes :

(i) Carbon-14.
Answer:
To determine the age of fossils.
(ii) Sodium-24.
Answer:
To determine the underground water pipe leakage.
(iii) Cobalt-60.
Answer:
To produce gamma rays to kill cancer cells.
(iv) Phosphorus -32.
Answer:
To study the metabolism of phosphorus by plants.
(v) Uranium-235.
Answer:
As fuel in nuclear power stations.

4. Iodine-127 and iodine-131 are two isotopes of iodine. Table 2 below shows the number of
each subatomic particles in an atom of iodine-127.

number

Proton

Neutron

Electron

53

74

53

TABLE 2
(a) Suggest a reason why one of the isotopes of iodine is called iodine-127?
Answer:
Iodine-127 has a nucleon number of 127 which consists of 53 protons and
74 neutrons.
(b) Tabulate the number of subatomic particles found in an iodine-131 atom in a table
similar to Table 2.
Answer:
number

Proton
53

Neutron
78

Electron
53

(c) (i) Which isotope of iodine is used in the field of medicine to determine the health
of human thyroid gland?
Answer:
Iodine-131
(ii) Suggest a reason for your choice in c(i).
Answer:
Iodine-131 is radioactive and gives off radiations.
(d) Isotopes of an element have the same physical and chemical properties.
The above statement is found in a students notebook and it is incorrect.
Correct the sentence and rewrite it below.
Answer:
Isotopes of an element have the same chemical properties but different physical
properties.
(e) The relative atomic mass of chlorine is 35.5. Suggest a reason to explain why
the relative atomic mass of chlorine is not a whole number or integer?
Answer:
Chlorine has two isotopes of which 75% of chlorine exists as chlorine-35 and
25% of chlorine exists as chlorine-37.