Which statement is true about oxygen 17 and oxygen 18

General
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which statement is true about oxygen 17 and oxygen 18

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Which statement is true about oxygen 17 and oxygen 18?

To determine the truth about oxygen-17 and oxygen-18, we must understand that these are isotopes of oxygen. Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Here’s a detailed look at these isotopes:

1. Oxygen-17 and Oxygen-18 Are Isotopes of Oxygen:

  • Both oxygen-17 ($^{17}O) and oxygen-18 (^{18}$O) are isotopes of the element oxygen.
  • The atomic number (number of protons) for oxygen is 8, meaning both isotopes have 8 protons.

2. Differences in Neutron Numbers:

  • Oxygen-17 has 9 neutrons (since 17 - 8 = 9).
  • Oxygen-18 has 10 neutrons (since 18 - 8 = 10).

3. Chemical Properties:

  • Both isotopes exhibit identical chemical properties because chemical behavior is largely determined by the number of protons and electrons, which are the same for both isotopes.
  • They tend to form the same types of bonds and participate in the same types of chemical reactions as the more common oxygen isotope ($^{16}$O).

4. Physical Properties:

  • Their physical properties, such as mass, are different. $^{18}O is heavier than ^{17}$O.
  • This mass difference can lead to slight differences in the rates of reactions or the behavior of molecules containing these isotopes.

5. Abundance:

  • Oxygen-17 and oxygen-18 are both stable isotopes but are much less abundant than the most common isotope, oxygen-16 ($^{16}$O).
  • Oxygen-18 occurs about 0.2% of the time in natural oxygen, while oxygen-17 is even less common.

6. Applications in Science:

  • Both isotopes are used in scientific research, particularly in paleoclimatology where they help in understanding past climates. The ratios of these isotopes in ice cores, marine sediments, and other geologic materials provide insights into historical temperature changes and climatological conditions.
  • They are also used in medical research. For example, oxygen-18 is used in positron emission tomography (PET).

In summary, the true statements about oxygen-17 and oxygen-18 include:

  • They are stable isotopes of oxygen.
  • They have the same number of protons (8) but different numbers of neutrons (9 for $^{17}O and 10 for ^{18}$O).
  • They exhibit the same chemical properties but have different physical properties due to their difference in mass.
  • They are less abundant than oxygen-16 in nature.
  • They are useful in scientific and medical research, particularly in studying past climates and in medical imaging techniques.

These factors collectively distinguish oxygen-17 and oxygen-18 as unique isotopes of the element oxygen with specific applications and implications in various scientific fields.