Question

Would you expect the first ionization enthalpies for two isotopes of the same element to be the same or different? Justify your answer.

Answer 1

The ionization enthalpy of an atom depends on the number of electrons and protons (nuclear charge) of that atom. Now, the isotopes of an element have the same number of protons and electrons. Therefore, the first ionization enthalpy for two isotopes of the same element should be the same.