Chemistry – Atoms, elements and compounds - Isotopes | e-Consult

This statement is incorrect because chemical properties are determined by the number and arrangement of electrons, not the mass of the atom. Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons and electrons, meaning they have the same electronic configuration. The electronic configuration dictates how the atom interacts with other atoms through chemical bonds. The difference in mass between isotopes is due to the varying number of neutrons, which affects physical properties like density and reaction rates (kinetic energy), but does not alter the electron configuration or the way the atom participates in chemical reactions. Therefore, isotopes of the same element exhibit identical chemical properties.