Why are all hydrogen atoms not identical?

1 Answer
Jan 7, 2018

Because of the existence of isotopes....

Explanation:

An hydrogen atom has Z=1....the hydrogen atom can have several isotopes.... the which differ by the number of neutrons, massive nuclear particles of ZERO charge, present in the nucleus...

And so we gots ""^1H, protium isotope; ""^2H, the deuterium isotope; and ""^3H, the tritium isotope...these are the common isotopes of hydrogen, and contain 0, 1, and 2 neutrons respectively.

You will have to look up the isotopic abundances on the web....