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The lack of a neutron in hydrogen
Name: Linda K. griffin's sixth grade science class
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999
Question:
We would like to know why hydrogen has only a proton
and no neutrons. Does the lack of a neutron influence
hydrogen's volatile properties? Also, is the lack of a
neutron the reason that hydrogen is not grouped with
the noble gases?
Replies:
Excellent question... Actually there are three types
of hydrogen atoms. The most common type is "normal" hydrogen
and only has 1 proton and 1 electron. A less abundant type, called
deuterium contains 1 proton, 1 electron, and 1 neutron. A deuterium
atom weighs twice as much as a "normal " hydrogen atom. There is also
an even less abundant type of hydrogen atom, called tritium which
contains 1 proton, 1 electron, and 2 neutrons. Tritium weighs three
times as much as a "normal" hydrogen atom. For most purposes, all
three of these types of atoms behave identically from a chemical
perspective. However, from a nuclear perspective, they behave
differently since they have different numbers of neutrons.
Hydrogen is not in the noble gas family because its s orbital in
its outermost shell (The first shell) is not filled. Members of
the noble gas family have filled s and p orbitals in their outermost
electron shell.
Hope this helps!
---
Dr. Brown from Tallahassee...
Well, helium has only filled s orbitals but it's usually
the first two is said to have a "restricted valence;" only
the s orbitals are considered to be part of the valence shell.
Thus the hydrogen atom has it s valence half-filled and
He has its valence completely filled, which is characteristic
of rare-gas elements; low electron affinity, high ionization energy.
In the second row, s and p orbitals are close enough in energy
so that they now constitute the valence shell; thus when
beryllium's 2s orbital is filled it still hasn't completed it's
valence shell (although the filled 2s orbital is pretty stable and
is sort of a pseudo-rare gas configuration....
Just putting in my 2 cents' worth.
-dr topper
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