The separation of different isotopes of a particular element can be difficult because
A) all isotopes are dangerous because of their radioactivity.
B) neutrons are so small.
C) chemical reactions happen the same way for the isotopes.
D) the masses of the isotopes are the same.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Chemical reactions occur in the same way for all isotopes of a particular element because the number of protons in the nucleus determines the element's chemical properties. Therefore, separating isotopes involves physical methods that exploit small differences in mass, such as distillation or centrifugation. Option A is incorrect because not all isotopes are radioactive. Option B is incorrect because the size of the neutron does not affect the separation of isotopes. Option D is incorrect because the masses of isotopes are actually different, but the differences are often small and difficult to exploit for separation.

The Separation of Different Isotopes of a Particular Element Can