P6 Atomic and Nuclear

Question 1

what is a nucleus made of?

Answer 1

protons and neutrons

Question 2

in nuclide notation, what does A represent?

Answer 2

mAss number (p+n)

Question 3

in nuclide notation, what does Z represent?

Answer 3

proton number

Question 4

what is radioactive decay?

Answer 4

an UNSTABLE NUCLEUS loses some ENERGY

by giving off IONIZING RADIATION (as a, b, g)

Question 5

what’s another way to say ‘ionizing radiation’?

Answer 5

radioactive emissions

Question 6

A emission:

how many PROTON/NEUTRON does the nucleus lose? → what is the MASS and CHARGE of a A particle?

Answer 6

nucleus loses 2p 2n (helium nuclei)

A particle: mass +4, charge +2

Question 7

what is the RANGE of A emission in?

Answer 7

cm

Question 8

which radioactive emission is the MOST PENETRATING, a b or g?

Answer 8

gamma

blocked by lead

Question 9

which radioactive emission is the MOST IONIZING, a b or g? why?

Answer 9

alpha

• biggest mass
• most charge

Question 10

how are A particles DEFLECTED in electric/magnetic fields?

Answer 10

CAN be deflected

• ATTRACTED BY - (cuz it has + charge)
• attracted by SMALL AMOUNT (cuz it’s more massive)

Question 11

what is the NATURE of B emission?

Answer 11

a electron emitted from nucleus

• mass 0
• charge -1

Question 12

what is the RANGE of B emission in?

Answer 12

m

Question 13

how are B particles DEFLECTED in electric/magnetic fields?

Answer 13

CAN be deflected

• ATTRACTED BY + (cuz it has - charge)
• attracted by LARGE AMOUNT (cuz it’s less massive)

Question 14

what is the NATURE of G emission?

Answer 14

high energy electromagnetic wave

• mass 0
• charge 0

Question 15

what is the RANGE of G emission in?

Answer 15

infinite

Question 16

which radioactive emission is the LEAST PENETRATING, a b or g?

Answer 16

alpha

blocked by paper

Question 17

which radioactive emission is the LEAST IONIZING, a b or g? why?

Answer 17

gamma

• no mass
• no charge

Question 18

how are G particles DEFLECTED in electric/magnetic fields?

Answer 18

not deflected

• no charge
• no mass

Question 19

what stops B emission?

Answer 19

aluminium (or ofc lead)

Question 20

how do you show A decay using nuclide notation?

Answer 20

A -4

Z -2

Question 21

how do you show B decay using nuclide notation?

Answer 21

A no change

Z +1

Question 22

what are some methods of detecting radiation?

Answer 22

photographic film

GM tube

Question 23

why are radioactive materials dangerous?

Answer 23

ionising radiation can damage cells → cancer, burns, death

Question 24

what are some safety measures to take when handling radioactive materials?

Answer 24

• reduce exposure by lead box/gloves/suit
• increase distance to source (long tongs)
• decrease time spend w source

Question 25

what is background radiation?

Answer 25

radiation from space and earth even with no radioactive source near you

Question 26

what are the sources of background radiation?

Answer 26

• radon gas
• cosmic rays
• food
• ground
• medical

Question 27

what are the USES of a, b and g decay?

Answer 27

A:
🚭 smoke detector

B:
📰 controlling thickness of paper or foil

G:
👨‍⚕️cancer treament
🦠 sterilisation and disinfection
🏭 detecting leaks

Question 28

what is an important nature of radioactive emissions?

Answer 28

random

impossible to predict the decay of individual atoms

Question 29

what is half life?

Answer 29

time taken for the number of unstable nucleus of an isotope to halve