6.3 p2

Question 1

What does an alpha decay result in

Answer 1

the degradation of the nucleus of an
atom

transmuation

Question 2

nuclear transmutation

Answer 2

the conversion of one chemical element or an isotope into another chemical element.

Question 3

Where does alpha decay occur

Answer 3

Alpha decay only occurs in atoms with a larger nucleus (that have lots of protons and neutrons)

Question 4

Beta decay

Answer 4

A nuclear reaction in which an atom loses an electron

Question 5

beta particle

Answer 5

A beta particle is a fast moving electron which is
released from the nucleus undergoing
radioactive decay.

Question 6

when does beta decay occur

Answer 6

when a neutron changes into an proton and electron

Question 7

what is gamma radiation

Answer 7

electromagnetic radiation with a high

frequency.

Question 8

How is gamma rays emitted?

Answer 8

When atoms decay by releasing alpha or beta particles to form a
new atom,

the nuclei of the new atom formed may still
have too much energy to be completely stable.

This excess energy is emitted as gamma rays

Question 9

The rate at which nuclear decay takes place

is measured by a what?

Answer 9

by a radioisotope’s half-life.

Question 10

Beta radiation

Answer 10

▲

transmutation of a neutron into a proton and an electron

Question 11

Alpha radiation

Answer 11

type of radiation that occurs when the nucleus of an atom becomes unstable and alpha particles are released to restore balance.

Question 12

what can beta particles pass throuhg

Answer 12

passes through air, paper, skin, water but not wood

Question 13

most dangerous radiation

Answer 13

gamma rays

Question 14

most powerful to least powerful radiation

Answer 14

gamma rays
beta particle
alpha particle

Question 15

what does an alpha particle consist of

Answer 15

2
protons and 2
neutrons

Question 16

what does a beta particle consist of

Answer 16

Consists of an
electron (small and
negative).

Question 17

electromagnetic force

Answer 17

the force that attracts the electrons to the nucleus.

Question 18

how are atoms arranged in periodic tabel

Answer 18

from left to right and top to bottom

Question 19

How many electrons can fit in the first electron shell? Second shell? Third? Fourth?

Answer 19

first shell-2
second shell-8
third shell-18
4th shell-32

Question 20

Describe radioisotopes.

Answer 20

An unstable form of a chemical element that releases radiation as it breaks down and becomes more stable.

Question 21

Ionising radiation

Answer 21

energy produced from natural or artificial sources

Question 22

composition of gamma ray

Answer 22

has smallest wavelength

identical in x rays, light photons and radio waves

Question 23

half life

Answer 23

Half-life is the amount of time needed for half of a radioactive material to decay.

Question 24

The half-life of an isotope of tritium is 4500 days.
How many days will it take an amount of tritium to fall to a quarter of its initial mass?
days

Answer 24

2 × 4500 = 9000 days.

Question 24

Explain why the isotopes of some elements are radioactive.

Answer 24

unstable nucleus-too many or too little neutrons

Question 25

What are often mixtures of isotopes

Answer 25

Natural samples of elements

Question 26

gamma decay

Answer 26

A nuclear reaction in which an atom loses high energy

Question 27

how to calculate half life

Answer 27

Divide ln 2 by the decay constant of the substance.

Question 27

what is carbon dating

Answer 27

finding out how old a material is by the content of carbon 14