Q1: The chemical nature of an element is independent of

ANS:C - the number of neutrons present in it.

The chemical nature of an element is determined primarily by its atomic number and the number and arrangement of its electrons. Therefore, the correct statement is: "The chemical nature of an element is independent of its atomic number." The chemical properties of an element depend on the number and arrangement of electrons in its atoms, which in turn is determined by its atomic number. Changes in the number of neutrons (isotopes) do not significantly alter an element's chemical properties, although they may affect its stability and physical properties. However, changes in the number of protons (which would change the atomic number) would result in a different element altogether, with different chemical properties. Therefore, the chemical nature of an element is indeed independent of its atomic number. The number of neutrons present in an atom of an element contributes to its stability and mass but does not significantly influence its chemical properties. Neutrons are one of the three main subatomic particles found in the nucleus of an atom, alongside protons and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons have no charge (they are neutral). The number of neutrons in an atom can vary, leading to different isotopes of the same element. Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons (and thus the same atomic number) but different numbers of neutrons (and thus different mass numbers). For example, carbon has three naturally occurring isotopes: carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14. These isotopes have 6, 7, and 8 neutrons, respectively, in addition to their 6 protons. The number of neutrons affects the stability of an atom. Isotopes with too few or too many neutrons relative to the number of protons can be unstable and undergo radioactive decay, emitting radiation in the process. However, despite these differences in stability and mass, the chemical properties of isotopes of the same element remain essentially the same. This is because chemical reactions primarily involve the rearrangement of electrons, which are located in the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus. The number and arrangement of electrons, which are determined by the element's atomic number, are the primary factors that govern its chemical behavior. Therefore, while the number of neutrons influences an element's stability and mass, it does not significantly affect its chemical nature.