What is the difference between isotopes and ions?

What is the difference between isotopes and ions?

Isotopes are variants of a chemical element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Ions, on the other hand, are atoms or molecules that have gained or lost one or more electrons, resulting in a net charge.

Can you give me an example of an isotope?

Sure! Carbon-12 and Carbon-14 are two isotopes of carbon. They both have 6 protons but differ in the number of neutrons.

What about ions? Can you explain that?

Absolutely! An example of an ion is sodium (Na). When it loses an electron, it becomes a positively charged ion, Na⁺. Conversely, when chlorine (Cl) gains an electron, it becomes a negatively charged ion, Cl⁻.

How do isotopes and ions affect chemical reactions?

Isotopes generally do not affect the chemical properties of an element, but they can influence reaction rates in some cases. Ions, however, play a crucial role in chemical reactions, especially in ionic compounds and solutions.