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The two isotopes of elemental chlorine are:
Explanation
Chlorine (atomic number 17) exists in nature as a mixture of two principal stable isotopes: 35Cl and 37Cl [1]. These isotopes differ in their neutron count, with 35Cl containing 18 neutrons and 37Cl containing 20 neutrons. In natural deposits, these isotopes occur in a relative abundance ratio of approximately 3:1, specifically about 75.8% for 35Cl and 24.2% for 37Cl [1]. This specific isotopic distribution results in chlorine's standard atomic weight of approximately 35.45 u [1]. While trace amounts of the radioactive isotope 36Cl exist in the environment due to atmospheric spallation, it is not considered one of the primary elemental isotopes found in bulk natural chlorine [1]. Therefore, the two primary isotopes of elemental chlorine are 35Cl and 37Cl.
Sources
- [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotopes_of_chlorine