What is the relationship between isotopes and chemical properties?

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This difference in neutron count leads to variations in atomic mass, but their chemical properties remain fundamentally the same.

The reason for this consistency in chemical behavior lies in the fact that chemical properties are determined primarily by the electron configuration of an atom, specifically the distribution of electrons in its outermost shell. Since isotopes of a given element have the same electron configuration, they engage in chemical reactions in the same way.

For instance, consider chlorine, which has two stable isotopes: chlorine-35 and chlorine-37. Both isotopes will react chemically in the same manner despite their difference in mass.

In contrast, the other options imply that isotopes would have differing effects on chemical properties or behaviors, which does not align with the principles of chemical bonding and reactivity dictated by electron configurations. Therefore, saying that isotopes do not affect chemical properties accurately summarizes the relationship between isotopes and how they interact chemically.