Chapter 2, Problem 2TC

Summary Introduction

To explain:

Why radioactive carbon behaves chemically the same as non-radioactive carbon.

Introduction:

Isotopes of an element are varied forms of the same element with a different atomic mass. Hydrogen has three isotopes, namely, ${}_{\text{1}}{}^{\text{1}}\text{H}$ protium ${}_{\text{1}}{}^2\text{H}$ deuterium and ${}_{\text{1}}{}^3\text{H}$ tritium. The difference amongst these is the increasing number of neutrons. Protium has zero neurons, deuterium has one neutron and tritium has two neutrons.